'Australian Plants' Vol.9 No.71 June 1977

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INTERNATIONAL SERIES INDEX No. ISSN 0005-0008

Registered for posting as a periodical— June, 1977—Vol. 9, No. 71 ? 5c
Category B Vol. 9 will comprise Issues 69-76

Photography by A. S. George

BANKSIA LEHMANNIANA

This species from Western Australia is a large bushy shrub, often with an
open upright habit. Flowers are yellow or yellow-green in colour and are
10-16 cm long.



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CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE

“‘Bankslas’’ — Thelr Cultlvation in The East”, by F. D. Hocklngs — Page 95.
‘‘Banksla and Dryandra’”, by G. A. Oxnam — Page 107.
‘‘Western Wildflowers For The East”, by JiIm Webb — Page 109.

“Western Banksia Grown In Canberra”’, by Gotham & Butler — Page 113,
"‘Proteaceae — So Different From Other Flowers'’, by Nurl Mass — Page 116.
“‘Gardening In Limestone Areas’, by Paullne Tully — Page 119.

“Grow From Seed — 2, A Serles On Propagatlon — Page 122.
"“The Genus Lissanthe', by T. J. Hawkeswood — Page 126.
““New Eucalypts From Western Australla’”’, by M. |. H. Brooker — Page 133

GROWING WILDFLOWERS

“The growing of wildflowers is easy in good garden conditions if you
select suitable species”. This is the theme of the last two issues and we
shall attempt to continue on from here. The plants recommended in this
issue are Banksia. Provided you stick to growing eastern species in the east,
and western species in the west, and follow the recommendations to date,
you should be quite successful. Why should we have this restriction? We
have all seen colour photographs of the magnificent Banksias from the west
and we would love to grow them in the eastern States.

We suspect a major factor is below ground conditions. This aspect has
not been presented adequately before and will be the major concern of
the following issues. To really stir up comment and | hope thought, see the
articles on pages 109, 114 and 115.

The series on simple propagation is continued on page 122.

Gardening in Limestone Areas will be of special interest — page 119.
For the beginner | suggest you read ‘“Proteaceae . . .” — page 116
Readers will also note further changes in presentation. — Editor.

THE SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS

“AUSTRALIAN PLANTS" IS AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL PRESERVATION JOURNAL
(A non-profit maklng venture, produced quarterly, dedlcated to preservation by cultlvation)
This Journal Is published by The Publishing Sectlon on behalf of:
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—N.S.W. REGION:
Presldent: Mr. A. Blombery, 8 Terry Rd., Eastwood, 2122.
Secretary: Mr. Ray Page, 21 Robb Street, Revesby, N.S.W., 2212,
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—QUEENSLAND REGION:
President: Mr. L. Smith, Lot 29, Vores Road, Petrie, 4502.
Secretary: Mrs. Lorna Murray, P.0. Box 809, Fortitude Valley, Qld. 4006.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—SOUTH AUSTRALIAN REGION (Inc.):
Presldent: M. W. Pybus, 41 Harrow Rd., Somerton Park, S.A. 5044.
Secretary: Dr. R. W. Riessen, Box 10, PO Blackwood, S.A. 5051.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—TASMANIAN REGION:
President: Mrs. J. Closs, 7 Vyella Court, Austin’s Ferry, 7011.
Secretary: Mrs. K. Corbett, 35 Plllinger Drive, Ferntree, 7101.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—VICTORIAN REGION:
President: Mr. D. B. Fletcher, 247 Waverley Road, East Malvern, Victorla, 3145.
Secretary: (Sister) E. R. Bowman, 4 Homebush Crescent Hawthorn East, Victorla, 3123
Please do not phone or call at prlvate home—enqulrles by mall only.
SOCIETY FOR GROWING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS—CANBERRA REGION:
Presldent: Mr. Arthur Chapman, 8 Horne Pl., Latham, A.C.T. 2615.
Secretary: Mrs. Christine Tynam, 42 Blindaga St., Aranda, A.C.T., 2614
WEST AUSTRALIAN WILDFLOWER SOC. (Inc.):
President: Dr. N. Marchant, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, W.A. 6009.
Secretary: Miss B. Britton, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, W.A., 6009.
Seed Is In very short supply—try the commercial seedsmen, not W.A. Soclety
Membershlp Is open to any person who wishes to grow Australlan natlve plants. Contact the
Secretary of the Soclety for your State for Information without obligation.
PUBLISHING SECTION FOR SOCIETIES—Produced as a non-profit venture.
Managing Editor: W. H. Payne, assisted by P. D. Leak; Despatch by E. Hubner, H. Jones
MAIL—Address mall to the Edltor, 860 Henry Lawson Drive, Picnic Polnt, NSW 2213
Please do not telephone or call at prlvate home—enquirles by mall only.
SUBSCRIPTION—Members: Apply to State Secretary above.
NON-MEMBERS: You may recelve the next 4 issues direct to your home by forwarding
an sannual subscription of $3.00. Overseas subscription $4.20 Aust., £2.80 In English currency
or $650 U.S.

COPYRIGHT — All material copyright as directed by authors.

PAGE 94—Vol. 9



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Banksias
/ PROPAGATION AND CULTURE

by F. D. Hockings

There are over 60 species of Banksia all of which are endemic in
Australia with the exception of Banksia dentata of northern Australia which
extends to Papua. A review of the genus to be published in 1978 will extend
this to 80 species so | will not dwell on the classification of the species.
Banksia reaches its greatest development in Western Australia with about
two-thirds of the species. There are 10 to 12 species in Queensland.

The name Banksia perpetuates the name of Sir Joseph Banks who
collected the first specimens of B. serrata and B. ericifolia at Botany Bay
in 1770. The accepted vernacular name for banksias seems to be Australian
Honeysuckle. The flowers are rich in nectar but the honey that bees make
from it is usually dark and strongly flavoured and of little value. However,
the pollen is quite important for bees in some districts. The Aborigines of
Botany Bay apparently soaked the large flower heads of B. serrata in water
to make a slightly sugary drink which they called Beal. A major reason for
its cultivation in gardens is the number of birds it attracts.

The Banksias are woody xerophytic trees or shrubs; xerophytic, of course,
means they are adapted to dry conditions. Some of the shrubby species
have peculiar forms of growth, for instance, there is a small group with
prostrate branches either at or just below the surface of the soil. The
xerophytic characters can be seen in the hard leathery leaves and the
peculiar woody fruits. Many species also develop a lignotuber, this is a
swollen woody crown just below ground level and it is an adaptation for
survival of fire.

FLOWERS, SEEDS AND LEAVES

The flowers of Banksias are formed into rigid, dense and usually showy
heads which are characteristically held more or less perpendicularly and
either pointing upwards or downwards. One species has its flowers in
depressed heads like a Dryandra but the others have cylindrical, oblong or
globular heads. A Banksia ‘“flower” is really composed of a great many
individual small flowers, perhaps over 1000 in some species, arranged on a
stiff central stem that becomes very woody as the follicles enclosing the
seeds develop. These follicles are very hard and woody. With some species
the follicles are very large and only a few develop on each head: with other
species the follicles are smaller and so many develop that the fruit looks like a
cob of corn with the follicles as the grains.

With most species, the winged seeds take 12 months or more to develop,
and then they remain enclosed and protected within the follicles, perhaps
for many years, finally to be released after a bushfire or a severe drought.
A few species such as B. integrifolia and B. menziesli release their seeds more
quickly and spontaneously when it is ripe.

Banksia leaves are usually arranged alternately on the stems but a few
species such as the eastern B. integrifolia have the leaves arranged verticilli-
ately, which of course, means in whorls. The leaves of some species are quite
remarkable in shape, perhaps divided to the midrib into triangles or squares
or finely divided like a feather.

PAGE 95—Vol. 9



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Photography by F. W. Humphreys.

BANKSIA PRIONOTES

An upright tree 6-10m high. Widely distributed species in Western Australia.

9

PAGE 96—Vol.



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notography by F. W. Humphreys.

BANKSIA BAXTERI
An erect shrub up to 3m high, native to Western Australia.

"

Photography by Hugh Stacy.

BANKSIA SPINULOSA
This species grows along the East Coast of Australia and is rarely more
than a small or medium sized shrub.

PAGE 97—Vol. 9



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Many of the tree species have a picturesque irregular stout trunk with
gnarled rough bark. The characteristic conspicuous fruit are a feature of all
species. The large shaggy fruit of B. serrata which bear few but prominent
large woody follicles protruding through the dried flowers, were featured
by May Gibbs as “the big bad banksia men” in her series of delightful
children’s books.

The swampy coastal strip of Queensland generally referred to as the
Wallum, takes its name from the Aboriginal name for Banksia aemula which is
or was common in this class of country. Incidentally, B. aemula does not
grow in the swampy parts, it is quite susceptible to root rot and it actually
grows on the sandy rises in the wallum country.

SOIL

In general Banksias require an acid soil and very good drainage. They
are nearly all very susceptible to root and crown rots such as that caused by
Phytophthora cinnamomi. The Western Australian species are particularly
susceptible and this is the reason we see very few in gardens in Coastal
Queensland. The problem is particularly bad in soils that have an impervious
layer or bottom within a foot or three of the surface.

As with other members of the Proteaceae family, banksias apparently
can obtain their requirements of phosphorus from the soil in which this
chemical occurs in very low concentrations. Even moderate amounts such
as may be applied in mixed complete fertilizers or blood and bone, can be
too much for many species and may cause yellow leaves and cessation of
growth. More concentrated phosphatic fertilizers such as Magamp and
superphosphate cause intense yellow leaves, scorched tips, dieback and death

| of the plant. Regular light applications of a nitrogenous fertilizer such as
“ Sulphate of Ammonia or Urea will help slightly to overcome the effects of
| phosphorus.

To generalise, a soil pH reaction much above 6.5, such as could be
caused by the presence of an appreciable amount of calcium (Lime, Dolomite,
cement, superphosphate) could cause yellow leaves and tips on many
species of banksia. The severity of the symptoms (calcium induced iron
deficiency) increases as the pH rises even higher. As will be seen from
another article in this issue, particularly for some western banksias, the effect
of high pH can be overcome by application of Iron Chelate which is a very
soluble form of iron. This is watered into the soil around the plants. It is
also advisable to apply some material to lower the pH reaction. At reactions
up to about pH 7.0 it may be sufficient merely to apply several small amounts
of Sulphate of Ammonia about four weeks apart. At reactions above pH 7.0
one or more applications of sulphur will probably be required.

For the above purposes Sulphate of Ammonia and Iron Chelate can
be applied together by adding one or two heaped teaspoons of each to a
bucket of water per plant. This treatment can be repeated if necessary
several times at about four weeks apart. If sulphur is to be used the best
form is Wettable Sulphur (Colloidal or Microtomic Sulphur). It should be
sprinkled evenly around a plant at the rate of about 1 ounce per square
yard. Application of sulphur should not be repeated sooner than 3 to 4
months and then only if indicated by a pH test.

A few of the Western Australian species are probably tolerant of lime
but one should not lose sight of the fact that an acid soil rich in humus
can form close beside or in a layer on top of limestone.

As the occurrence and incidence of lime has received such importance
in other articles in this issue, it would be appropriate to record here results
of pH tests | carried out on the roadside soil using a C.S.I.R.O. soil pH Test
Kit. | was hampered by lack of time in making more tests and in identifying
species. The accuracy of the tests could have been affected by alkaline water
for working the equipment. My rough field notes could be summarised as:

PAGE 98—Vol. 9



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o
*

South of Jurlen Bay on Cervantes Road — No Proteaceae present — Llmestone
plllars evident. 9.0
Cervantes Road — Pimelea ferruginea — white sand wlth Iimestone pleces 9.0

Near Cervantes — No Prot ae — Pimelea, Scaevola — yellowed sand
and llmestone. 8.5 to 9.0

Top of last ridge before Jurlen Bay — last Banksla and Conospermum on fringe
of change In vegetation — adjacent to lImestone. 7.0
Close by above — group of Banksia 6.5

Quarry just out of Jurlen Bay — Western slope of first ridge from surface Jurlen
Bay. No Proteaceae, very few Myrtaceae 8.5
8" 8.5
Banksla patch V2 mlle east of quarry 6.0 to 6.5
Geraldton Wax patch (5 plants) close by above — pleces of limestone. 8.5
Geraldton Wax patch nearby. 8.0 to 8.5
Banksla — 8 to 10 feet away 6.5
Banksia patch close by. 5.8 to 6.0
Geraldton Wax — odd plants a little further out. 6.0

Geraldton Wax and Banksla.

The limit of Proteaceae and occurrence of IImestone was most striking around Jurlen
Bay — Cervantes and Cape Lewiln and Hamelln Bay. There was an entlrely different flora
on the limestone and | haven't made sufficlent effort to Identlfy plants but they Included
Templetonia retusa, Melaleuca huegelli, Melaleuca densa, Pimelea ferruginea, a tall
Scaevola, Acacia pulchella, a Diplolaenea sp., Anthocerus littoralls, an Exocarpus?,
Leucopogon?, a Dryandra (possibly D. sessilis) showed a tendency to encroach on !Imestone
In many places, but | omitted to test soll around roots.

SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS

In general Banksia are not long lived plants or certainly not the above
ground portions. Like many other Australian native plants they have evolved
to fill a niche between bushfires. Many of the species develop a lignotuber
which survives fires that burn the above ground portions and strong healthy
growth is produced from the lignotuber following fire.

Periodic fire is very important for the banksias because it is necessary
for the fruit to be scorched or even charred before the follicles open up
to release the winged seeds. Fire also plays a very important part in
preparation of a seed bed so the seed can germinate and the seedlings
become established. Banksia seedlings are very susceptible to damping off
fungi which are common amongst rotting vegetable matter and probably
fire plays an essential part in partially sterilising the surface of the soil and
reducing the effect of these fungi.

Now and again we see advocated the adding of rotting leaves, etc. to
potting mix so as to introduce the beneficial mycorrhyzal fungus that lives
in association with the roots of healthy Banksias. This is a rather dangerous
practice because of the ease with which damping off fungus could be
introduced. | don’t believe it is necessary to worry about this mycorrhyzia
because it always shows up at a very early stage on seedlings | raise. Possibly
it is carried on or in the seed.

Incidentally periodic fires also clean up the borers, scale insects and
other pests that attack native plants.

Often would-be growers of Banksias collect the fruit and then can’t
get the seeds out for planting. The easiest method is to barbecue the
fruit over an open flame. A burner on a gas stove is excellent if your cook
is not looking. If the fruit is of one of the species that retains dead flowers
over the follicles, it will smoke a bit and drop ash. The follicles crack open
almost immediately and in about half an hour or if left until the next day,
the seeds can be shaken out.

There is little danger of an open flame harming the seeds. Baking in
an oven is often advocated and apparently is used successfully but long
exposure to penetrating heat would be much more liable to damage the seed.

In each follicle there are two seeds, each with a papery wing. Often
only one of these seeds develops properly. The seeds are separated by a
thicker, hard separator and on a number of occasions | have had a packet
of separators sent me, the more fragile seeds having been thrown out with
the rubbish.

Ll
o

Continued on page 101

PAGE 99—Vol. 9



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Photography by J. Glass.
DRYANDRA FRASERI

A highly ornamental small shrub which has yellow flowers, sometimes tinged with mauve.
It has attractive glaucous fern-like foliage and can be used as a ground cover, growing
to about 1.2 x 1.2 m.

Photography by J. Glass.

DRYANDRA CIRSIOIDES
An upright slightly spreading shrub which grows to about 1.5 m high, In a well-dralned
position. The dark, rigld prickly follage Is offset by the bright yellow termlnal flowers.
Natlve to Western Australla

PAGE 100—Vol. 9



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Photography by R. W. Burbury

DRYANDRA SPECIOSA

Found in gravel and sandy heath 150-250 km east and north of Perth,
Western Australia. it is a dense, much-branched shrub, from under 1 m to
3 m in the wild. The flower heads hang and are protected by long wispy-haired
bracts.

The inflorescence illustrated is still in bud, the flowers turning dark red
as they mature. The bracts eventually open out like a sunflower, excellent
for dried art work. Almost unknown in cultivation (notes by B. Lamont).

GROWING DRYANDRA?

Please forward reports of your experiences with the cultivation of Dryandra.
Treatment is generally the same as for western Banksia. See page 107.

BANKSIAS — Propagation and Culture—cont’d from p. 99

SEED RAISING

Banksia seed, once it is extracted, will germinate quite quickly and
easily without any treatment such as by hot water or filing. However it is very
susceptible to fungal attack unless some simple principles of hygiene are
followed. Commercially available, sterilised seed raising mixes are useful
provided they do not contain too much fertilizer. Alternately, clean washed
sharp river sand or a mixture of sand and peat moss is suitable. As an
extra precaution, pots or containers in which seeds are planted should be
kept up off the ground and out of reach of fungus carrying splash from
the soil.

PAGE 101—Vol. 9



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| prefer to plant the large types of banksia seeds such as those of Banksia
aemula and B. serrata individually in 3 inch tubes or similar sized containers
of sand / peat mix so that the young plants don’t have to be handled or
transplanted. | usually tear off the wing and poke the sharp end of the seed
into the surface of the potting mix so that the seed is flush with the surface.

A number of seeds of the smaller seed species such as B. collina and
B. robur can be planted together in a 4 or 5 inch pot of clean washed sharp
river sand. If there is any doubt about the cleanness of the sand it can
be sterilised by running hot water through it for a few minutes and allowing
it to cool before planting.

| plant the seeds by removing some or most of the separators, then
rubbing the seeds gently between my hand to remove most of the wings.
| then sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the sand and stir them into the
top ¥4 or %2 inch of sand with a biro, tamp the surface down and then
stand the pot in a saucer of water, about one inch deep.

Banksia seeds usually germinate in 1 or 2 weeks.

When the seedlings have at least 2 or 3 true leaves they can easily be
transplanted singly from the sand filled seed raising pot, to containers of
sand/peat mix.

CUTTINGS

Banksias can be raised from cuttings but there are some problems such
as a tendency for cuttings to over-callus. Quite often cuttings will develop
a large knob of callus %” or more in diameter and will remain dormant
for about 12 months without growing roots.

There are also instances where plants grown from the lower sprawling
branches of B. collina have continued to be sprawling and lacked any
tendency to erect growth.

Tip cuttings or small heel cuttings 2 to 4 inches long appear to be the
most satisfactory. Banksia meissneri, a low growing, fine leafed species
from W.A. is the one | have had most success with in the past.

The following quote on banksia cuttings, taken from The lllustrated
Dictionary of Gardening, published in 1885, gives advice we could very well
follow and which could give us better results. ‘“Banksia — cuttings are
generally supposed to be difficult to root but this is not the case if properly
managed. Let them be well ripened before they are taken off; then cut them
at a joint and place them in pots of sand, without shortening any of the
leaves, except on the part that is planted in the sand where they should
be taken off quite close. The less depth they are planted in the pots the
better so long as they stand firm when the sand is well closed around them.
Place them under hand glasses in the propagation house but do not plunge
them in heat. Take the glasses off frequently to give them air and dry them
or they will probably damp off. When rooted transfer to small pots”.

GRAFTING AND BUDDING

Grafting and budding offer a solution to the root rot problem to which
many banksias, particularly the W.A. species are susceptible here. In theory
at least, you should choose as a root stock a species (if one exists) that
is resistant to the disease and you graft or bud the susceptible species onto
the upper portion.

BANKSIA FOR COASTAL QUEENSLAND GARDENS

Banksia robur is probably the hardiest of the banksias. It occurs in the
coastal wallum swamps but is able to grow in either very wet or over-
drained positions. For instance, it has grown well in the past at Myall Park,
Glenmorgan. This large leafed species has flowers that progress in colour

PAGE 102—Vol. 9



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from an intense blue-green to cream then brown. In cultivation, B. robur
varies from a 4 to 6 foot shrub with several erect stems to a more spreading
shrub perhaps 8 ft across.

B. oblongifolia is another hardy south Queensland species from poorly
drained soil. It has attractive creamy yellow flowers. Plants are usually 2 to

3ft in height and somewhat sprawling or sometimes more upright to about
6 or 7 feet.

B. integrifolia is a very variable species that occurs in a variety of
situations from the frontal dune at the seaside to mountain tops of the ranges
and the sands of the Granite Belt and Condamine River near Cecil Plains.
Some forms are very hardy. It varies from forms with short wide leaves, to
those with long narrow leaves and from small shrubby trees to tall trees with
up to 3 foot trunk diameter. Flowers vary from greenish cream to creamy
yellow.

B. collina is also a very variable species both in leaf size and shape and
in flower colour. Leaves can be about %2 inch wide or very narrow. Flowers
vary from lemon yellow to rich orange and with styles from yellow to orange
to maroon red to jet black. Some forms of B. collina are very hardy in our
coastal gardens. It occurs naturally in various areas in and around Brisbane
and a magnificent stand is in the process of being demolished for housing
in the Chermside Hills between Hamilton Road and Rode Road. It is one of
the plants that qualifies better than Grevillea banksii as a floral emblem.
B. collina is as showy as any of the W.A. banksias and is relatively easy to
grow. We should make a lot more of it than we do.

B. spinulosa is fairly similar to B. collina and the two have been confused.
Its leaves are always very narrow and it seems to occur only on sandstone.
It probably needs a better drained soil than does B. collina.

B. aemula grows into magnificent gnarled specimen trees in the wild
but is rather touchy in cultivation. It requires good drainage.

B. serrata is very similar to B. aemula but appears to be much more
dependable in cultivation. There are shrubs of about 18 years of age existing
in Brisbane gardens.

B. sp Glasshouse Mts. This unnamed species is being grown in a few
gardens in Brisbane and appears to be quite hardy. One plant has been
thriving in a Toowoomba garden since the early 1960’s.

B. ericifolia doesn’t extend any further north than Byron Bay in northern
New South Wales. It is quite a common garden plant here and is fairly
hardy. In some situations it grows to a huge size and flowers poorly; in
others it flowers at 3 or 4 feet.

B. marginata is another species from N.S.W., Victoria, Tasmania and
probably S.A. that is occasionally grown here. Some plants thrive. It has
small yellow flowerheads.

OTHER EASTERN BANKSIA — Notes by Hugh Stacy

Banksia robur features huge toothed leaves and soft red velvet new
shoots; southern forms seem to succumb over dry winter conditions. Suitable
for wet areas with poor drainage.

Banksia aspleniifolia (referred to above as B. oblongifolia) is also suitable
for wet areas. The foliage is russet brown to a height of 1.5 m; the yellow
flower spikes appear in March-April. This shrub is also suitable for loams
or sand and will tolerate short dry periods.

Banksia paludosa requires sub-soil moisture, so plant in damp places
with good drainage and full to half sun. It needs some protection. The same
conditions are necessary for B. canei that | describe over the page.

PAGE 103—Vol. 9



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Photography by Hugh Stacy.

Banksla canel (above) occurs In a few scattered communltles In the eastern hlghlands
of southern N.S.W. and northern Victorla. Bushes are generally less than 2 m high. Winter
condltlons are usually wet or cold, whlle In summer the area could be wet or dry. Flower
splkes are yellow, 13 cm long, thelr width about half thelr length. Flower parts soon fall
from the seed cones, which are always clean. Mature leaves are up to 55 mm x 14 mm,
nearly spathulate, always mucronate to a pungent tlp with edges recurved, dark green and
shiny above, pale below. The above photographs of B. canel are from Wadbllliga
Mountaln, N.S.W.

PAGE 104—Vol. 9



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BANKSIA IN SYDNEY GARDENS — By Hugh Stacy

Some eastern banksias can be grown in nearly every native garden in
Sydney. However, plants must be selected according to conditions available
to minimise disappointment.

All banksias love the sun, but are sensitive to drying out, especially in
the early stages. By mulching to within 5 cm of the stem in late autumn
some protection will be given and root development will be encouraged while
ground temperatures are still moderate.

Natural and inorganic slow-release fertilisers are the only suitable
fertilisers to use. Superphosphate must be avoided.

Photography by C. H. Shipway

BANKSIA COLLINA

Bushy shrub 2-4 m high. Found along the East Coast of Australia. Closely
related to Banksia spinulosa.

PAGE 105—Vol. 9



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BANKSIA STUDIES

A very active study group on the genus Banksia is led by Trevor Blake,
12 Little John Crescent, Vermont, Victoria, 3133. The reports on the activities
by this Group will be of wide interest. You may obtain the report from
Trevor by mail. Each report will cost $1.00 plus postage (1 Report 20c;
2 Reports 40c; 3 and 4 Reports 60c).

Report No. 3 — 1973

Eastern Banksia species — A key, full descriptions of each species, illustrated
by full size sketches of the leaf and its various forms with distribution
maps of where they occur. Other articles on these species include field
reports, notes on cultivation and germination.

Frost tolerance of Banksia species — A very good report.

Tolerance to salt laden winds — A very good report on most species.

Seed germination — methods, time to germinate, report on results.

Grafting techniques described with results — A method of producing hardier
plants by grafting western species onto root stock of hardy eastern species.

Where the Western Australian species grow with indications of habitat.

Report No. 4 — 1974

Cultivation requirements for Eastern Banksia species in various States based
on reports by members of this group.

Identification of Banksia species at the seedling stage.

Germination of seed — Reports on trials by members.

Grafted Banksia — a further report on trials.

Phytophthora cinnamom — A report on this deadly fungus.
Cultivation of Banksia — Further reports.
’Australian Plants’” — Banksia Reports

As with all our study groups it is proposed to publish a summary of
the work of the Banksia Group in future issues. We would never have the
space to supply notes of all members in the group as contained in their
Study Reports so they are well worth obtaining. They take the form of
duplicated foolscap sheets usually about 30 pages per report.

Following the publication of a complete revision of the Genus in tthe
next year, we will include much more descriptive articles on the magnificent
Banksia in future issues.

STUDY GROUPS

ACACIA — Leader: Mr. John Arnold, P.O. Box 89, Armidale 2350, N.S.W.

BANKSIA — Leader: Mr. Trevor Blake, 12 Llttle John Court, Vermont 3133, Victoria.
BEAUFORTIA — Leader: Mr. Brian Walters, 19 Hurley Street, Toongabble 2146, N.S.W.
CALLISTEMON — Leader: Mr. Blll Tongue, University Farms, Private Bag, Camden 2570, N.S.W
CALYTRIX — Leader: Mrs. Joan Doney, 64 Cary Street, Wyoming 2251, N.S.W.

DRYANDRA — Leader: Mr. Tony Cavanagh, 2 Wilkinson Street, Ocean Grove 3226, Victorla
EREMAEA — Leader: Mrs. Lyn Parry, ‘“Floralands’, Karlong 2251, N.S.W.

EREMOPHILA — Leader: Mr. G. Needham, 2 Stuckey Ave., Underdale 5032, S.A.
EUCALYPTUS — Leader: Mr. L. J. Danlels, Research Statlon, P.O. Box 201, Blloela 4715, Qid
FERN — Leader: Mr. Steven Clemesha, co Post Office, Moonee Beach 2450, N.S.W.
MELALEUCA — Leader: Mr. Ralph Campbell, 58 Lee-Steere Crescent, Kambah, A.C.T. 2902
RUTACEAE — Leader: Dr. Mervyn L. Turner, 14 Rose Avenue, Boronla, Victorla 3155.

Study groups comprise a number of members, usually without any prlor experlence, who
undertake to grow plants In thelr gardens and report results. They usually operate by mall
through a leader, who supplles seed, advice and, In some cases, plants. The objectlve Is
to grow and develop better forms of specles, or to determine the best growing conditions
of specles already avallable.

To become a member send $1.00, with a stamped, addressed envelope, to one of the
leaders above. No more members for the fern group at present.

We need a study group leader for Grevlllea. Who wlll help us get It started?
PAGE 106—Vol. 9



@@@ 15 @@@



Banksia and
Dryandra

Cultivation In Western Australian Gardens
by C. A. Oxnam

The growing of plants of Banksia and Dryandra from seed by sowing
straight into the garden as described in my article in 1971 (Australian Plants
No. 46, page 73) is still recommended where the garden is of well drained
sand. | have not done this for some time as | do not have any more space
for large shrubs.

At that time no one, not even the nurseries, seemed to have any luck
with growing any seedlings in pots because of the damping off. It seemed
to be a few years later, when “Osmocote” came on the market here, that
nurseries first had stocks of well established plants of Proteaceae in pots.
We home growers started to try again and have met with success using the
following method:

We use a coarse mixture in the pots comprising clean coarse river sand,
bush sand and German Peat in the proportion of 3:2:1. A mixture of 3 parts
pearlite to one part peat, also gives good results.

As soon as the two leaves appear we feed with ‘“Osmocote”.

Planting time for the seed is about May when the winter rains have
become established. At this time and until about September we can let
nature do most of the watering. Of course we have to make sure the pots
do not dry out before germination takes place. We mostly plant a seed
per pot, using the 8 cm square pots to avoid having to prick out.

BANKSIA

As these plants were described in my article in No. 46 issue | will
confine this report to results.

| have found Banksia burdettii much the hardiest Banksia. Two bushes
each about 8 years old produce masses of flowers each January. | have
two fine plants of B. prionotes left, losing a large one recently. Two plants
of B. grandis have died after 12 years so | suppose | cannot complain.
Others | have lost after reasonabie success are B. victoriae and B. hookerana.
Plants of B. media are still growing although not flowering as well as at
first. B. occidentalis, looks healthy, but has not flowered although at least
10 years old. Some of the southern plants are most obstinate here in Perth.
My plant of Banksia coccinea is eight years old, doing well, but still no
flowers. | still have flowering specimens of B. pilostylis, B. dryandroides,
B. speciosa, B. prostrata (from Lake King), B. ashbyi, B. baxteri and
B. praemorsa.

DRYANDRA

The most successful plant | have had of Dryandra is D. praemorsa,
D. polycephala is treasured though | keep losing them. | still have one large
plant that flowers well, but does not seed. D. nana and D. tridentata do well.
| lost a beautiful plant of D. formosa and have never been able to get another
one going.

ISOPOGON — OTHER PROTEACEAE

Two plants of Isopogon cuneatus two years old are doing well but have
yet to flower. Conospermum, Adenanthos, Lambertia, Petrophile, Synaphea
and Xylomelum are seldom seen in cultivation. Many would be good garden
subjects but are not available from nurseries here.

Hakea and Grevillea are represented in most wildflower gardens but not
a wide variety. The nurseries mainly offer eastern species whereas the western
species are often more spectacular.

PAGE 107—Vol. 9



@@@ 16 @@@



OTHER PROTEACEAE

The next two Issues wlll present other Proteaceae very sultable for garden cultlvation such
as the well known “Pin-cushlon Hakea'’ below.

Photography by Peter Althofer.

HAKEA LAURINA

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@@@ 17 @@@



Why can’t we grow all the
Western Australian
Plants in the East?

By Jim Webb, Canberra

This question, even if unasked, must be foremost in the minds of those
native plant growers in the Eastern States, who have progressed to the
point of having grown successfully most of the choicest or rarest of the
Eastern species.

Some have accepted fully, no doubt, the verdict of the plant pathologists,
who, carrying out a post-mortem on the corpse, have isolated the root-fungus
Phytophthora cinnamomi. Others living in areas like Canberra, who see the
small plant die in winter or autumn, blame frost. | reject this explanation,
except in a small minority of cases, and instead put forward the hypothesis
that pH on the acidic side of the scale throughout the root-zone, and in
particular lack of calcium in the root-zone, is the prime cause of failure.

In short, applications of lime can enable us to grow the hitherto difficult
plants successfully, but with certain provisos.

The immediate reaction of growers to this statement is: “Nonsense, |
am growing such and such a species from W.A. perfectly and | have never
used lime, and never will, as it causes chlorosis.” | am aware of this apparent
anomaly, but would suggest that only by experimentation and observation
by all Eastern growers can these two differing culturally demanding groups
be separated.

In part this has been done already, if we accept that those Western
Australian plants that grow readily in all Eastern States, and feature in
Commercial Nurserymen's lists, are generally those that can get by with
the levels of calcium available in the bulk of Eastern State situations.

The second group consists of those that grow well in some Eastern
areas and are failures in other areas. This group has a higher demand for
calcium, or perhaps those generally unknown combinations of assemblages
of plant nutrients that the presence of calcium releases from the soil if
added.

The third group comprises plants that are almost total failures in the
East. These are the high-lime demanders, or is it that they are the least
efficient extractors? | like to think of it as the latter.

My first experience with growing W.A. plants on a large scale goes back
to 15 years ago, when | was growing these in Broken Hill, Western N.S.W.

The only restrictions to growth | experienced there with W.A. species
were those directly associated with lack of water, salting and unavailability
of seed. Heavy frosts did occur, but were never a problem.

On later moving to Canberra | accepted, at the time, frost as the culprit.
Like everyone else | planted close to the house under eaves, where often
these plants succeeded, whilst those planted out perished; further apparent
confirmation of frost damage.

But, of course, it is in this area that builders love to bury mortar, plaster
and cement, all adding calcium and mostly raising the pH. Even cement
rubble and proximity to concrete areas is enough often to ensure good
growth for a limited time while the plant is small.

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@@@ 18 @@@



It was about four years ago | first started experimenting with lime, and
| became rather confused with the results | obtained. With hindsight | did
not use a large enough range of species and fell into the error of assuming
that all species of a genus behave in a similar fashion. Because of the
extreme ranges of lime tolerance, and lime intolerance, the levels of
application | chose were in retrospect far too low. It was not until | visited
Southern W.A. for five weeks in 1975 that | was able to check out the
anomalous species in situ.

From this trip | found that the species that grew well in Canberra in
lime-free situations in fact grew in the few situations in W.A. where no part
of the root-zone was alkaline. These were granite areas of the Darling and
Stirling Ranges, and areas near Albany and in other areas such as peaty
swamps (albeit with lime and alkaline sub-soils surrounding).

Surprisingly to me, laterite and bauxite of the few areas | examined also
had alkaline areas in depth. Traveliing by car with the family | could only
measure pH, so propose that at least some calcium is involved here. In the
rest of the Southern area of the State onshore, westerly winds in the recent
and past geological ages have carried large deposits of calcareous sand
derived from coastal and offshore limestone inland. Except for the higher
exposed granite areas, the ground water can contain appreciable amounts
of calcium, and in such a dry area in summer plants need to seek it out,
even at great depth. | was greatly impressed by Karri roots over 100 ft
down in limestone caves at Augusta and elsewhere. | think it is reasonable
to propose that interference with existing patterns of natural drainage of
water tables, and hence vegetation patterns, could prevent water table levels
charged with calcium reaching root-zones. | think here we may be looking
at the cause of death of susceptible West Australian plants in the S.W. for
reasons similar for their failure to grow in the East, with Phytophthora finally
giving the “Coup de Gréce”.

Let us now look at the hypothesis in general before | give the results
of my more specific experimentations, which may be valid only for Canberra
soil and conditions.

Firstly, dealing with N.S.W., and Sydney in particular. One would expect
that here on the Hawkesbury sandstone W.A. plants would thrive, but this
is not so. The few cases | have seen of thriving plants are related to builder’s
rubble, Aboriginal shell middens, or ground previously limed for exotics. Taken
all around one would expect worse results with the extreme of group 3, West
Australian plants on the Wianamatta shales, than sandstone, but some of
the best results occur on these shales, despite heavy clay and closer texture.
Naturally occurring higher calcium levels present here could be the answer.

Move west in the State, beyond Bathurst, calcium and soil pH levels
rise, and so does the success with W.A. plants, the Burrendong Arboretum
here being a good example in the middle range, and on to Broken Hill,
where the W.A. species predominate.

Success rate has always been better in Melbourne than Sydney, and
once again basalt soils rich in calcium give better results than other areas
despite clay. Proceeding inland, the same pattern emerges in Victoria as in
N.S.W.

In S.A. the picture is much clearer, with the contrast between the Adelaide
hills and the plains. The story of Micro climates being the reason for success
or failure | cannot subscribe to. True, | can believe this for exotic conifers,
but not for natives, especially when odd calcareous strata coincide with
excellent growth in the hills, comparable with otherwise overall excellent
growth on the alkaline plains.

At Mt Gambier, on limestone, excellent growth is achieved, and what
| believe to be significant—one of the few areas where Phytophthora has not
been recorded.

PAGE 110—Vol. 9



@@@ 19 @@@



Also very significant, | consider, is the fact that in Adelaide one begins
to see the mirror image of the situation in the east. Here, and to a greater
extent also in Perth, one sees chlorotic pathetic examples of Eastern State
plants being grown, and in the few cases where local State species are
grown they are thriving alongside.

But let us return now to more specific information of trials | have carried
out in the past 12 months in Canberra. These are not great in the total
number of trials that are required to evaluate fully the hypothesis of calcium
deficiency, but have given me some valuable information, summarised briefly
as:—

(1) Levels of lime calculated at an area basis per 5 in. pot (15 cm) of
3.18 grammes equivalent to 1 ton/acre or 2.51 tonnes per hectare, or roughly
5 bags per average suburban allotment induced chlorosis in East Australian
plants emanating from Sydney sandstone areas and grown in Black Mountain
Canberra soil.

Plants used: Actinotus helianthi and Banksia ericifolia.

(2) The same level applied to W.A. plants—improved colour and growth,
and maybe frost resistance.
Plants used: Melaleuca diosmifolia (sold to me as Verticordia grandis),

Hypocalymma cordifolium, Hakea multilineata, Banksia speciosa and Pimelea
rosea.

(3) In an effort to reach lethal levels of lime | added lime at the rate
of 250 grammes per 8 in. pot (20 cm), i.e. 30.7 tons per acre or 77 tonnes
per hectare, or 145 bags per suburban block—at this level the following
W.A. species were thriving:—

Darwinia leiostyla, D. meeboldii, Banksia praemorsa, Banksia grandis,
Eremophila laanii, E. dempsteri, Templetonia retusa, Hypocalymma cordi-
folium, Dryandra formosa, Pimelea rosea and two species shared between
West and East; Prostanthera aspalathoides and Clianthus formosus.

Most of the controls with no lime have died and with temperatures down
this year to —5° celsius. Twelve months ago | too would have said frost was
the cause. With this group | did not use Black Mountain soil, known to be
very low in both calcium levels and phosphorus, but used soil mix with a
higher phosphorus status; this has complicated the response of other species
to lime somewhat, and is at present the subject of further experimentation.

Sufficient to warn here that some W.A. plants short of calcium will suffer
an overdose of phosphate if the phosphate is supplied in the usual calcium
forms, but will tolerate non-calcium forms of phosphate until such time as
lime is applied.

The subsequent chlorosis is similar in appearance to lime-induced iron-
deficiency chlorosis, but does not respond to iron chelates. The plants recover
in time, as the excess phosphate is fixed to insoluble forms in the soil,
but bear in mind these levels of lime worked with these species with
phosphate present. With no phosphate present the list of species can be
extended in terms of lime response, and | will be reporting later on this
aspect in detail.

Result 1—Author has colour slides to illustrate the following.—Ed.

(4) Calcium-deficient plants of Hakea multilineata grown indoors in a
heated glasshouse have shown the appearance of frost damage, blackened
leaf tips and shoots. Added lime plants were normal and healthy. All other
essential plant elements were supplied at adequate levels.

Result 2—Illlustrated on colour slide with author.

Outdoors heavy applications of lime have removed from new growth
the symptoms of blackened leaf tips in Canberra grown Kangaroo Paws
(Anigosanthos flavida, A. manglesii and A. viridis).

PAGE 111—Vol. 9



@@@ 20 @@@



(5) In all cases, lime refers to agricultural lime, ground limestone as
sold by Southern Limestone Pty Ltd, Moss Vale, and Slag Lime Fertilizers
Ltd, Marulan, and never to hydrated builders’ lime. Where excess phosphate
is known to be present, or the expected level of lime is not known, heavy
levels of limestone gravel-road metal has mostly enabled satisfactory levels
of growth to be maintained.

Experiments are still proceeding, but so far it appears that some plants
like access through their root system to an acidic humic region, and with
other parts of their root system to limestone.

One group of W.A. plants which so far have not responded in growth
or colour to extra lime do not appear to suffer any symptoms of excess; this
is in contrast to Eastern species tested, where excess induces iron deficiency.
One such species is Banksia baxteri, where pot trials are not sufficient to
establish depression of growth by lime in the absence of other visual
symptoms.

(6) Experiments to determine relative effects of magnesium/calcium
ratio components always present in commercial limestone were not very
conclusive, except that straight magnesium carbonate did not substitute for
calcium, as the carbonate, and calcium present as Gvpsum (ca'cium sulphate)
was not as effective as calcium carbonate, indicating pH alone may be a
factor. Chemically pure lime was as effective as agricultural lime, which
tends to point to trace elements in the limestone not being present or
effective.

Only three plant species were used in these trials: Banksia speciosa,
Banksia baxteri and Hakea multilineata. Banksia baxteri, as it turned out,
was not affected by limestone, as detaiied in (5).

Hakea multilineata exhibited good growth respense to lime, but genetic
seedling variation tended to mask the effect where only three replicas of
each treatment were used.

Banksia speciosa proved to be a good choice; it responded to very
low levels of calcium, in the low calcium status, Black Mountain sandstone
soil pH 4.7 to 5.3 and, more importantly, having a meristematic leaf apex
has proved to be a good indicator plant.

Plants given full lime nutrition can fully expand the leaf in an 8-inch
pot to 40 cm long, and having 36-37 lobes. With calcium deficiency, plants
have leaves to 10 cm long and the meristematic apsx blackens and withers
away, resulting in only 12-14 lobes. Subsequent responses to lime do not
allow the leaf to elongate any further if the tip has withered, but new leaves
give us a ready visible status of lime sufficiency.

Other Banksia in the same group have similar leaves and may prove
to be better indicators of different levels of calcium nutrition.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion | wish to emphasise that | am not advocating the use of
lime as a simple cure-all. The principles of drainage, watering, mulching
and all the other proven techniques for Australian Native Plant cultivation
still app!y over and above the use of lime.

Perhaps the hardest concept for native plant growers to accept will be
that lime will have to be used as in exotic gardens, where its use is accepted
by all without question.

No lime on your potatoes, azaleas or camellias, but lime your beds of
asparagus, roses and beans for best growth is widely accepted.

| believe similar impositions to these will be nothing compared with
the increased range of native plants we can successfully grow in the Eastern
States with full experimentation. Let us all see how much is needed, where
and on what.

PAGE 112—Vol. 9



@@@ 21 @@@



West Australian Banksias in
Canberra

By J. GOTHAM and G. BUTLER

At the June, 1975, meeting of S.G.A.P. in Canberra an interesting and
most informative talk was given by Mr Jim Webb of the Australian National
University Botany Department proposing a theory deduced by observations he
had made of West Australian plants growing in their natural environment.
He stated that many W.A. species grew naturally on limestone-based soils,
or soils that had a limestone substrata somewhere beneath the surface soil.

The theory put forward was that some, not necessarily all, W.A. species
may require calcium and/or magnesium for satisfactory growth. This raised
some very thoughtful questions from the audience and he invited all to
experiment with the ideas and report any observations.

Not long after this it was noted that at the Girls’ Grammar School in
Adelaide Avenue, A.C.T., there were many plants of Banksia prionotes and
Banksia baueri growing extremely healthily, flowering and setting seed to
profusion—a very unusual occurrence in Canberra. It was also noted that
two Eastern States species of Banksias were growing in the same garden-
beds. These were Banksia ericifolia and Banksia serrata. Whereas the Banksia
serrata were reasonably healthy, the Banksia ericifolia were stunted and
chlorotic.

The garden-bed was situated against the N.W. wall of a two-storey
building of cement/brick construction. The natural soil, a heavy clay, had
a 2”-3"” layer of a friable sandy loam as a topsoil. It was fairly well cultivated,
being relatively weed free and had no mulch on top.

It was decided to obtain a core soil sampler and to do pH tests from
varying spots on the bed. These were done at five spots, taking a sample
from the top and at a point 12" to 18" immediately below.

1top 1bottom|2top 2 bottom (3top 3 bottom |4top 4 bottom |5top 5 bottom

SALT 120 ppm 28_0 610 200 350 420 280 610 200 420
pH 8.6 7.2 7.3 6.9 8.1 8.4 7.4 8.0 7.8 8.2

Calcium Analysis—Hole 1: less than 150 ppm. Hole 4: less than 150 ppm.
Hole 2: less than 150 ppm. Hole 5: less than 150 ppm.
Hole 3: approx. 2,000 ppm.

As can be seen by the figures, the garden-bed had figures reading on
the alkaline side of the scale, with only one figure on the acid side registering
at 6.9, very close to being neutral.

While taking the core samples from the bed it was noticed that there
was some brick and mortar rubble not far beneath the surface soil forming
a plate over the underlying clay. This was probably a result of the backfilling
of foundation trenches on completion of the building.

On the strength of the first figures more detailed information was under-
taken and analysed. Examples of the results are:—

SAMPLE 2—
1-10 cm  Top soil pH 7.6
10-15 cm  Brown clay .. 8.5
15-23 cm  Yellow/brown clay vy 8.5
23-26 cm  Brown clay . _— — 8.8
26-28 cm  Mortar layer A —— —-— 8.6
28-35 cm  Yellow Clay ........ccveivcmmiimmmmienmmmnsessavessisns . 8.5
35-40 cm  Yellow/brown clay and coarse particles 8.6

PAGE 113—Vol. 9



@@@ 22 @@@



Hisfogyram = Av Beeadihh x Hex ot
= Banksia eccPola \7>>Bad¢n

conates
Ceecr:

wg <
g} | ;\_3\-&\1 g&&c\' <
IB_P] B.E.[6E E_|Bs 6?)

\“%‘“%T ST,

Aver‘o%e PH-—‘B-Y Averoge pH:1-5]| Avemge P",g.o Avera%e PH:’I-&
O ~40 em §-50cm 2 —55cm o -30

for forther Qopees . See +able Por see +able for

Sez +oble for camPLe 5 SAMPLE .

SameLe 2.

Soil content at the 56 cm to 20 cm level comprises: Coarse sand 29 per
cent, fine sand 22 per cent, silt 13 per cent and clay 35 per cent.

Cations: Cg 8.9, Mg 4.7, Na 1.0 and K 0.27. Sum of Cations: 14.9.
Cation Exchange Capacity 14.0.

SAMPLE 5—

(One metre from pillar between two poor B. prionotes and one
chlorotic B. ericifolia.)

0- 8 cm  Topsoil - pH 7.8
8-15 cm  Brown/yellow clay RS e . 8.5
15-20 cm  Greyish clay and mortar 8.6
20-28 cm  Brownish clay ... . — . 8.2
28-35 cm  Yellow/brown clay i 8.0
35-43 cm  Yellowish clay .. . . 8.0
43-47 cm  Yellowish clay ... ) i 73
47-80 cm  Yellow/brown clay ... . . - 6.8

Soil content at the 0-5 cm and 5-20 cm levels respectively comprise:
Coarse sand 38 per cent and 29 per cent, fine sand 35 per cent and 22
per cent, silt 13 per cent and 13 per cent, clay 15 per cent and 35 per cent,
and pH 7.7 and 8.5.

Cations (mg/100 g, dry wt): Ca 7.8 and 8.9, Mg 1.0 and 4.7, Na 0.09
and 1.0, and K 0.2 and 0.27. Cation Exchange Capacity 9.6 and 6.5.

SAMPLE 7—
(One metre from pillar by the best B. prionotes.)

Soil content at the 0-5 cm, 5-15 cm and 15-30 cm levels respectively
comprise: Coarse sand, 43 per cent, 34 per cent and 28 per cent; fine sand,
44 per cent, 26 per cent and 25 per cent; silt, 7 per cent, 14 per cent and
14 per cent; clay, 6 per cent, 27 per cent and 35 per cent; pH 6.4, 7.9 and 8.3

Cations (Mg/100 g, dry wt): Ca 2.4, 9.7 and 9.6; Mg 0.24, 2.9 and 6.0;
Na 0.13, 0.32 and 0.96; K 0.12, 0.43 and 0.39. Cation Exchange Capacity
14.0, 14.5 and 12.0.

This article is aimed to promote discussion, trial and experimentation by
others. Hopefully the growing of many of the glorious W.A. species in Eastern
States gardens will become more of a reality with a little more research.

PAGE 114—Vol. 9



@@@ 23 @@@



W.A. Plants and the Use of Lime

Jim Webb has not recommended the use of lime on all plants from
Western Australia. For a certain range of plants, however, he has discovered
a marked improvement in health and vigour in the presence of limestone.
Perhaps the following comment by A. S. George, Botanist, Dept. of Agriculture,
W.A., will be significant:

“The article by Jim Webb seems a good report on experiments in
growing Western Australian natives. Many of our species occur in areas
where lime is present to a greater or lesser extent, e.g. in coastal areas,
around inland salt lakes, etc. | wonder if some interaction between the
applied calcium and the soil assists natives which usually do not inhabit
alkaline soils?”

Comment by Dr. Lamont, Dept. of Biology, W.A. Inst. of Technology:

“While it is true that a significant number of W.A. species prefer
calcareous soils — both coastal and inland species — the flora reaches
its greatest richness in deep, acid sands. They have certainly confirmed that
species occurring naturally in calcareous soils benefit from the addition of
lime to the soil. This should not be construed as a general indication that
W.A. species benefit by the addition of lime supplements. In fact more
serious problems of chlorosis and stunting could result from over-enthusiastic
applications of lime. Experiments are needed to determine if species which
are normally regarded as confined to acid soils, respond favourably to
additions of lime.

RESEARCH

We have an offer by a well-equipped Institution, with the competence to achleve
results, to conduct research on the optimum requirements for the cultivation of Western
Australlan wlldflowers In the garden situation. The first Investigation Is to follow the lead
glven by Jim Webb In this Issue.

We need finance. Who would be prepared to contribute to a fund to finance this
Investlgation? Not a great deal Is needed. Please advise the Editor If you can help.

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trading as AUSTRAFLORA NURSERY

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present these exclusive features:

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PAGE 115—Vol. 9



@@@ 24 @@@



So different from other flowers

A series for the young in spirit by Nuri Mass

For anyone with a special interest in flowers, the early days of
exploration in Australia must have been extremely exciting, considering how
many of Australia’s wildflowers are not to be found anywhere else in the
world. Imagine seeing a Waratah for the first time — a Banksia, Hakea,
“‘Mountain Devil”, Dryandra — all of those strange, beautiful things, and
hundreds of others besides, just growing wild in this ancient faraway continent!

It must have been a very nice feeling indeed for Sir Joseph Banks —
the botanist who sailed here with Captain Cook — to have such a handsome
“new” flower as the Banksia named after him.

As it happens, all of the flowers mentioned up there in the first paragraph
belong to the same family — Proteaceae. And if you were a flower, you
could scarcely belong to any family more fascinating — full of interest and
colour and variety.

The glorious Fire Wheel Tree is a member of Proteaceae. So is the
magnificent Silky Oak, and all of the other Grevilleas, the quaint little
Geebungs and Drumsticks, and of course, among ever so many others, the
ones we are going to look at specifically here — the Banksias and Hakeas.

As with most of the Proteaceae, a Banksia ‘“flower” isn't a single
large one, but ever so many little ones, all crowded together. In fact, in one
Banksia head, there can sometimes be about a thousand flowers, packed
into a large, upstanding ‘“cylinder”. And if Banksias are sometimes called
Native Honeysuckle, it is because their flowers are so rich in nectar that they
provide a regular feast for honeyeaters and nectar-loving insects. Even the
Aborigines back in the early days, used to soak a Banksia head in water
to make one of their favourite drinks.

Most of the Proteaceae are completely different from other flowers, and
the Banksia is no exception. Look carefully at a single one of them through
a magnifying glass, and see what a quaint little thing it is, with a tiny
stamen (only the anther part of it) attached to the inside of each of its four
petal-tips, and with a style far too long to fit into the closed flower, so that
it has to poke out from it in a loop. Then, when the petal-tips unfold, it
springs up straight, carrying the tiny stigma well out into the open, to
collect pollen from visiting birds and insects. And the petals are prettily
covered with fine silky hairs — and there aren’'t any sepals at all.

Then, when the flowers die, they still cling on to their big central stem
in a bristly sort of fuzz, while a few of them produce seedboxes — amazingly
large woody ones, considering how tiny the flowers have been. And it's
at this stage that the popular name “Old Man Banksia” comes in.

There they are, those seedboxes, nestled into the dry fuzz that used
to be flowers, and so tightly closed and hard that sometimes years go by
before there’'s a season hot and dry enough to crack them open. In fact
sometimes it's only a bushfire that will open them. Then two small seeds
fall out — or fly, if there’'s a breeze to carry them, since they have delicate
little wings — and soon, perhaps, a new Banksia plant is born.

It might be a spreading shrub, or a tree with thick rugged branches
twisting out at the wierdest angles into shapes which are at once freakish
and strangely beautiful. Its leaves might be small and heath-like, or quite
large with saw-tooth edges. And its flower-heads might be flame-coloured,
greenish-yellow, red, or even bluey grey. But whatever its shape or colour,
it will be one of Australia’s most unique and attractive wildflowers.

At first, you might not see any resemblance at all between a Banksia
and a Hakea, for Hakea flowers tend to grow in delicate little thread-like

PAGE 116—Vol. 9



@@@ 25 @@@



|
A Banksia "flower"
is ad’u:x\\j A

hUflz collection

of fin\j Flowers y Z
Y this / \/er
A Y
?‘ ?f much
U {Eenlarged
The bud \i f/ - je
of one ! i stamen
‘hhy Banks'm F\ower, X ,l/, TUCkeCl
with Pisfi\ hooPec\ ?‘Jlf;/ _‘\W_'“Sf
over and caught fiéfi o ;‘
inside the petal fips 3‘;{«; ° Pfi;

PAGE 117—Vol. 9



@@@ 26 @@@



clusters instead of in stiff, sturdy spikes, and they are usually white or
creamy in colour — although in Western Australia there are also some pinks
and reds.

But of course, as always when looking for relationships among flowers.
it's a mistake to judge merely by general appearance. You must go to the
individual flowers themselves. And as soon as you do this with a Hakea,

you see for certain that it does indeed belong to the same family as the
Banksia.

Here is the same looped style, with the stigma held imprisoned until
the petal-tip rolls back. Here again are the four little petals with a stamen
attached to the inside of each tip. Here again there are no sepals to be
seen. And if, when the flower opens, its petals tend to come apart all the
way down instead of only at their tips — well, it's only right that a Hakea
should be different in something.

As with Banksias, the fruits of Hakeas are hard and woody, with two
little winged seeds inside. But they come in all manner of different shapes —
some rugged and bulgy, others smooth and oval, still others narrow and
pointed like a bird’s beak. And again, it seems incredible that such hard,
strong seedboxes should come from such tiny flowers.

Probably some of our best-known Hakeas are those that we call Needle
Bushes, for the very good reason that their leaves are as sharply-pointed
as needies — and just as painful if you jab up against them. And, since
the leaves of the Needle Bush crowd all over it in dense masses, the plant
itself is like an armoury of weapons. Not weapons against you and me,
however, but against the heat of the sun.

Look closely at a Needle-Bush leaf, and you will see that it is actually
a cylinder, with its underside rolled inward. So that here we have one of
Nature’s many clever ways of enabling plants to live and flourish in hot,
dry places.

It is the habit of plants to transpire — that is, lose moisture — through
numbers of tiny pores (or stomates) on the under surfaces of their leaves.
So obviously, a plant with large, soft, spreading leaves would very quickly
shrivel up and die in a climate with sparse rainfall and a burning-hot sun —
whereas a plant with its leaves rolled around, pores inward, would be able
to live quite happily. In fact, Needle Bushes sometimes grow big enough
to look like small trees.

However, all Hakeas are not Needle Bushes. Some of them have quite
normal-looking leaves — long, broad and flat — which would ordinarily
be at the complete mercy of the sun, only for another little trick, clever
and extremely simple. As with Eucalypts, the leaves of these Hakeas twist
sideways on their stems, so that only their edges face directly into the sun —
and of course, they don’t lose moisture out of their edges.

Flowers like little clust'ring threads
Caught against a bush or “tree”,
Long flat leaves — or needle-sharp —
Hakeas are we!

Spikes of massed and fragrant flowers
In the bushland glowing,

Rugged trees with branches odd

This way, that way going,

“Old man” seeding heads — all say:
“Here’s a Banksia growing!”

PAGE 118—Vol. 9



@@@ 27 @@@



Gardening in
Limestone Areas

by Pauline Tully

Gardening in the greater part of South Australia means not only coping
with a limestone area, but for those in country areas there is the added
build-up of alkalinity in the soil from the constant use of bore water over the
long summer period which can often last through November to March or
April. Although a *‘good” winter in the south-east of the State, where |
lived, can be very wet indeed, the rate of evaporation during the dry months
is practically the greatest in Australia. Therefore to combat dehydration it
becomes necessary to try and create a moist atmosphere by regular watering
and by the end of summer there is a thin crust of yellowish/white salts
on the soil surface that can only be dispersed by good Autumn rains.

My garden was grown in a thin layer of terra rosa soil over solid limestone
— the stone at varying depths and at one place right on the surface. The
site was bare of any flora apart from a few Rough-barked Manna Gums,
although we were situated not far from typical sandy-soil heath-like scrub.
It seemed sensible to me to start a garden by trying to grow local flora,
and it was fortunate (or not so fortunate perhaps) that some of these adjacent
bushland areas were about to be buildozed for future pine forest and
agricultural development. There were, therefore, opportunities for me to
collect seedlings and small plants, cuttings, etc., and these eventually found
their way into my garden.

| cannot emphasise enough the successful use of local flora for a garden
of any area — whether limestone or not. i is so important to conserve
through cultivation the native plants that belong to your own district. Apart
from this, it is after all easier to grow what obviously does well under the
conditions offering. In limestone areas, the plants | found easy to grow were
most of the Acacia family; the “bush peas”, which means a multitude of
plants such as both bush and climbing varieties of Hardenbergia, Daviesia,
Templetonia, Lotus, Indigofera, Goodia, Eutaxia, Kennedya, Chorizema and
many others.

The Hakeas; H. rostrata, H. nodosa, H. vittata and H. rugosa all grew

in the S.-E. of South Australia, and H. multilineata, H. laurina, H. saligna and
H. suaveolans were happy there.

The finest of the Grevilleas was G. lavandulacea — the form which
grows along the S.A./Vic. border from Penola to Bordertown, and makes a
magnificent display from late Winter onwards.

The Mallee type Eucalypts did well — E. forrestiana especially.
E. diversofolia was included because of its adaptability to all sorts of harsh
conditions, and grows in its natural state in the so-called desert country of
S.A. as well as along the Coorong where it is subject to salt-laden windy
conditions. It will grow anywhere. To give a full and itemised list of plants
would take up too much space. It is 10 years since | left my garden in South
Australia and came to live in Victoria, and so much more has been gained
in knowledge of native plants, that | am sure | would have attempted at
least, to try and establish more varieties and species had | the experience
since acquired.

During this time, new fertilizers have come onto the market which could
probably have a good effect in supplying both trace elements and nutrients
lacking in limestone soils. Much more is known too, about native plants of
all kinds. One must remember that the Society for Growing Australian Plants
was only formed in 1957, and in the 20 years it has been in existance, we
have learned and are still learning a great deal year by year.

PAGE 119—Vol. 3



@@@ 28 @@@



GARDENING IN LIMESTONE AREAS

As the practice of “liming” certain plants is recommended for some
species of western plants, reports of success with a wide range of natives
were investigated revealing the following:

Mrs. Joan Lindross, 7 Tiverton Street, Belmont, Vic. submits a list compiled
by Mr. Ted Errey of plants flourishing in his limestone area:

PROTEACEAE

MIMOSACEAE

LILIACEAE
HAEMODORACEAE
IRIDACEAE
CAESALPINIACEAE
FABACEAE

RUTACEAE

SAPINDACEAE
MALVACEAE
STERCULIACEAE
DILLENIACEAE
MYRTACEAE

OLEACEAE

SCROPHULARIACEAE

LAMNACEAE
MYOPORACEAE
COMPOSITAE

Banksia baueri, B. baxteri, B. caleyi, B. canei, B.
ericifolia, B. integrifolia, B. lindleyana, B. marginata,
B. media, B. nutans, B. occidentalis, B. ornata, B.
praemorsa, B. serrata, B. speciosa, B. spinulosa.
Dryandra formosa, D. praemorsa.

Grevillea alpina, G. aquifolium, G. baueri, G. biplnnati-
fida, G. oleoides, G. juniperina, G. lavandulacea, G.
rosmarinifolia, G. sericea, G. steiglitziana, G. theleman-
niana.

Hakea laurina.

Acacia anceps, A. floribunda, A mitchellii, A. penta-
denia, A. prominens, A. spectabilis.

Dianella laevis, D. revoluta, D. tasmanica.
Anigozanthos flavidus.

Orthosanthus multiflorus.

Cassia australis, C. nemophila.

Coodia lotifolia, Hardenbergia violacea, Indigofera
australis, Kennedia prostrata, Pultenaea daphnoides,
P. pedunculata, Templetonia retusa.

Boronia heterophylla, Correa alba, C. decumbens,
C. Manni, C. reflexa. Eriostemon myoporoides.
Dodonaea microzyga.

Hibiscus huegelii.

Thomasia petalocalyx.

Hibbertia stricta.

Agonis flexuosa. Beaufortia sparsa. Callistemon cit-
rinus, C. linearis, C. macropunctatus. Calothamnus
quadrifidus, Calytrix alpestris, C. sullivanii. Chamaelau-
cium uncinatum.

Eucalyptus al'pina, E. crenulata, E. erythrocorys, E.
leucoxylon rosea, E. macrandra, E. nicholii, E. nutans,
E. orbifolia, E. preissiana, E. stoatei, E. subcrenulata,
E. tetraptera, E. torquata.

Eugenia myrtifolia. Leptospermum nitidum.
Melaleuca elliptica, M. hypericifolia, M. nesophila, M.
polygaloides, M. pulchella, M. radula, M. wilsonii.
Thryptomene calycina, T. saxicola.

Notelaea ligustrina.

Mazus pumilio.

Prostanthera ovalifolia, P. sieberi.

Eremophila macu!ata.

Helichrysum bracteatum. Olearia grandiflora, O. pan-
nosa.

Mrs Lindross adds the following to the list: Grevillea Poorinda (various),
G. robusta, Hakea petio'aris, H. victoriae, Acacia baileyana, A. iteaphylla,

A. longifolia, A. pravissima, A. pycnantha, A. retinodes, A. saligna, A. vestita,
Kennedia rubicunda, Dodonaea boroniifolia, Eucalyptus rubida, E. globulus
ssp. bicostata, E. gomphocephala, E. tasmanica, E. perriniana, Melaleuca
armillaris, M. linearis, M. styphelioides, M. violacea.

PAGE 120—Vol. 9



@@@ 29 @@@



A dose of iron chelates, a couple of teaspoons in a bucket of water,
watered round the roots about twice a year, corrects a slight yellowing.
Mrs. Pauline Tully, Nicholson, 3882, writes:

Your appeal made me remember a list of plants in my garden which
was then in the south-east of S.A. near Narracoorte. This garden was grown
in a thin layer of terra rosa soil over pure limestone — there was in fact a
large limestone cave in the depths below! (/I have omitted those plants already
mentioned. Ed.)

Acacia acinacea, A. armata, A. dodonaeifolia, A. fimbriata, A. mearnsii,
A. melanoxylon, A. myrtifolia, A. longifolia var sophorae, A. suaveolens, A.
verticillata; Albizzia lophantha; Astroloma conostephioides; Bossiaea prostrata,
B. cinerea; Baeckea crassifolia, B. virgata; Billardiera cymosa; Boronia
pilosa, B. caerulescens, B. megastigma; Bursaria spinosa; Cassia sturtii;
Calytrix tetragona; Clematis microphylla; Callistemon macropunctatus; Dillwynia
floribunda; Daviesia ulicina; Gompholobium huegelii; Goodenia humilis; Hakea
nodosa, H. multilineata, H. vittata, H. rugosa, H. rostrata, H. suaveolens;
Leucopogon virgata; Lotus australis, Melaleuca gibbosa, M. megacephala,
M. uncinata; Sambucus gaudichaudiana; So'anum aviculare; Viminaria juncea;
Casuarina distyla, C. stricta; Cryptandra tomentosa; Darwinia micropetala;
Dampiera rosmarinifolia; Dodonaea cuneata; Eutaxia microphylla; Grevillea
ilicifolia; Hardenbergia vio'acea, H. comptoniana; Hibbertia fasciculata, H.
linearis, H. sericea; Isopogon ceratophyllus; Melia; Prostanthera nivea, P.
behriana, P. incisa, Tetratheca ciliata.

HOW ARE YOU GROWING WILDFLOWERS?

There is a need for many more reports from readers on their experience
with the cultivation of wildflowers. Please write to the Editor. Perhaps you
may have a problem or want information on a particular genus of plants!
Let us help you in the fun.

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CATALOGUES, OFFICE STATIONERY, LETTERHEADS,
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Telephone: (STD 02) 602-7404, 602-3126

Page 121—Vol. 9



@@@ 30 @@@



Grow from Seed — 2

A REVIEW OF PROPAGATING METHODS BY THE EDITOR

Proven basic methods of growing plants from seed by the home
gardener with no special facilitiecs were described in our last issue. This
advice was kept as simple as possible because beginners often get dis-
couraged by the introduction of strange terms, special facilities or com-
plicated procedures. | hope that this article will not discourage them. Read
it. Skip the apparently involved sections if necessary, but get the general
trend.

You may adopt the various methods used by others, but as one well-
known writer often says, “it is commonsense”. He does not mean that you
should naturally know what to do. He means you should look around you,
see what others are doing, and by careful thought and observation evolve
the method that suits you best. Most propagators have their own variation
of commonly used practices that they have found works for them. | shall try
to describe to you their various ‘‘secret” (which is ridiculous, as they have
all been published before if you know where to look) methods. It is the
‘“commonsense” adoption of their methods to your particular circumstances
that will bring you success.

The article in the last issue was slanted to the germination of seed
species in the plant family Myrtaceae, the subject of that issue, as they
are particularly easy to germinate. This issue is primarily devoted to the
plant family Proteaceae, and as these are very often propagated by seed
quite easily, then you are encouraged to grow some plants for your garden.
However, while they are so easy to grow from seed by some people who by
luck or careful planning do it the right way, others have a lot of difficulty
due to very simple errors.

| do not pretend to be an expert, or even one of those successful
propagators. | shall review methods already published, under various headings,
and request those who can contribute more to send me their comments.

(For propagation of ferns refer to Volume 8, page 138.)

Basic Requirements for Germination of Seed

| suggest you first read “The Seed”, Vol. 1, Issue 11, page 13—
“Germination”, Vol. 7—"Germination of Seed”, Vol. 2:44. For our next
volume | hope to print an article reviewing the latest scientific research on
this aspect; is there a writer who will accept this assignment?

First get Your Seed

To collect your own seeds often needs some knowledge of the plant
genera and species. Perhaps this is wrong. Careful observation will indicate
when seed is ready for harvest. Nature’s way of forming seed and protecting
it for suitable germination conditions is often devious, certainly with infinite
variety. Much more information needs to be published on fruits, seeds, when
they are ripe, how to identify the plant from the fruit and seed, etc., so will
readers with information on this please contact the Editor?

As this issue features the genera in the plant family Proteaceae, the
collection of seed from the more common species are described in another
articie on this subject. For species that drop seed, such as Eriostemon,
Grevillea, etc., see Vol. 1, 4:7. For advice on storage refer to Vol. 1, issue 1,

age 3.

i The easiest way to get seed is out of a packet. Unfortunately, there
are limited supplies, especially of Proteaceae, and we would welcome donations
from anyone who can collect some.

When you have your seed, do you have seed? Is it viable? Will it grow
given perfect conditions? It is not usually easy to tell if seed is viable.

PAGE 122—Vol. 9



@@@ 31 @@@



One accurate report (Vol. 6: 257) was 25 per cent viability of Eriostemon
australasius seed.

With hard seed, such as from wattles and pea-flowered plants, put it
In water. If you can sink it, it is probably good. The surface tension between
the water surface and the seed coat may cause good seed to float. A
non-foaming detergent added to the water will probably rectify this.

Other seed with bulky or fluffy outer coats cannot be proved this way.
If there is a hard core, it may be good. Much seed looks good, feels good,
but will never germinate, so do not be discouraged by poor results at times.

When to Sow

This will vary with the species and with your climate. As discussed
under Dormancy (Vol 2:91) the length of day (or night) can be critical in
some cases.

For Proteaceae: “Sow seed no earlier than October, or growth is slow
and germination yield low, but no later than late February, or too little
growing time is left before the cold months in Melbourne” (Vol. 5:356).—
Waratah: "“Pods ripen about April, so plant then.” | have been advised to
plant W.A. Banksia seed in May, after the humid hot weather and give the
plants time to get established before the next humid spell in Sydney.

You will see that summer planting in the South, with April to May
planting in the North, would appear the best times.

Prior Treatment of Seed

Much has been written already on this subject. It is aimed at first getting
the seed ripe for germination and then frustrating nature’s way of protecting
the precious embryo for survival of the species in the wild.

Reports on after ripening of seed before planting are needed. We have
one concerning Epacris (Vol. 3:197).

Reports of success following physically removing the outer seed coat
or testa appear in past issues, this being used with Grevillea (Vol. 2:83,

Vol. 3:143). It is easier with large seed. There is one report of good success
with Ptilotus seed.

The treatment of seed with calcium hypochlorite (common bleaching
powder) to partially remove the seed coat prior to planting is described in
Vol. 1, Issue 2, page 5. This method could be used much more widely and
is effective on small seed as well. It is also a good fungicide and bacteriacide,
and | have seen excellent results with it.

The hot water treatment was described in our last issue. The abrasion of
the hard coat (or nicking with a knife) is effective (Vol. 7:96).

The seed coat must also serve other purposes. The experiment reported
in Vol. 6, page 259, showed failure to germinate Eriostemon australasius
when the testa was wholly removed, but when only chipped away at the
radicle (large) end, and leaching of the remainder of the coat under running
water for two weeks was tried, germination of this extremely difficult seed
was successful.

Germination Prior to Planting

Seeds need light (or cycles of light related some think to the period
of day or night at a suitable time or season of the year), warmth (or cycles
of warmth and cold), and water to encourage the embryo to end its hibernation
and start to grow again. It contains all the food it needs to grow the first
four leaves and the propagating medium only serves to hold it down and
provide a snug bed for the new root. It is fun to provide these germinating
conditions and see the new leaves emerge, and the root to thrust out blindly
before planting the seed.

PAGE 123—Vol. 8



@@@ 32 @@@



Pregermination of seed is especially useful with Proteaceae, as the seed
is usually large. The various methods of pretreatment of seed will often
provide pregermination as well. In your cup of wattle seed, in water that
has been hot and now has cooled off, you will see some of the seed growing
in the water if left there a week or so.

Methods of pregermination have been mentioned already:—

In a loose, sterile medium (Vol. 1, Issue 1, page 4).

Mix the seed with damp vermiculite . . . place in an ice-cream tray . .
keep in a sunny position and keep damp.

In cotton wood—the cottonwool sandwich (Vol. 1, 12:17).

In damp peat moss in a bottle (Vol. 3, page 69).

In a plastic bag (Vol. 3:68).

In papier-mache egg-cartons (Vol. 8:30).

Prepare Your Seed Boxes, Pots or Containers

Seed is germinated in a wide range of containers. The old method of
using seed-boxes (Vol. 6:309) is still used widely, especially by commercial
nurserymen and the experienced propagator. You would be well advised to
read of the pronagating methods of Alec Blomb=ry in Vol. 7, page 96, follow
his methods and ignore all the variations mentioned here.

The germination medium may be just coarse sand, which is quite
satisfactory. The use of a little peat or spaghnum moss appears to assist
germination (Vol. 8:24), as well as help retain moisture. Other growers have
their own pet mixture (Vol. 3:252, Vol. 7:321, Vol. 5:356, Vol. 6:309).

| use pearlite, as it is sterile and an occasional spray with a fungicide
seems to keep it this way (Vol. 6:309 uses vermiculite).

There is evidence that some seed needs the friendly help of a fungi
or other organism to assist it to germinate, or to assist it to grow. Soil from
around Boronia or Eriostemon plants is introduced into the mix for germinating
Eastern Rutaceae (Vol. 7:96). Dried Banksia leaves, shredded, are used in
a mix to germinate Waratah (Vol. 1, 1:3).

A wide range of propagation containers or boxes are used from a
glasshouse with trays, a shade-house, a special hot-box (Vol. 3:107), propagat-
ing frames for the home gardener, widely used and recommended (Vol. 2:47),
to old buckets (Vol. 3:106).

The glasshouse does not appear to be successful because of humid
conditions. The widely used simp!e method of placing a piece of glass over
the pots or boxes has proved very successful, but the glass must be raised
shortly after germination to provide fresh-air circulation. The use of trays or
pots in the open without glass is preferred by some and appears more
successful with some species, especially those that are slow to germinate
(Vol. 1, No. 1:4, No. 5:3 and No. 7:11, Vol. 3:69 and Vol. 7:97). The bucket
Vol. 3:106 has been very successful with some seed.

Planting the Seed

The seed is best planted with a cover equal to twice the thickness of
the seed. Cast the seed on the propagating medium and cover with a thin
layer of sand, firming down flat with a flat implement. The covering of seed
is varied by many propagators. There seems general agreement that seed can
be planted too deep. A lot of seed, especially fleshy fruits, is just rested on
the surface. Rodger Elliot does not cover fine seed of Myrtaceae, such as
Callistemon and Melaleuca, when using the bog method.

Various methods of seed cover also include:—

A cover of paper over (Vol. 1, 1:3).

A cover of a piece of towelling (Vol. 3:14).

A %" layer of white gravel, which provides an acid reaction (Vol. 6:309).

A cover of road metal, “easy mulch” or compost (Vol. 3:252).

If you water overhead from a spray, a covering such as the gravel will
help to hold the seed down and prevent it getting washed out.

To be continued In the next Issue.

PAGE 124—Vol. 9



@@@ 33 @@@



The Genus Lissanthe R.Br.

by T. J. Hawkeswood, Glenbrook, N.S.W.

The two species of the genus Lissanthe belonging to the plant family
Epacridaceae are presented.

Colour photography by John Fanning

LISSANTHE STRIGOSA

A small, prickly shrub to 60 cm high, with white or pink flowers in short
axillary racemes crowded at the ends of the branches.

PAGE 125—Vol. 8



@@@ 34 @@@



The genus Lissanthe, erected in 1810 by Robert Brown, is a small genus
consisting of only two species, belonging to the Australian heath family
Epacridaceae; one species is endemic to the three eastern mainland Australian
States, as well as to South Australia and Tasmania, while the other species
is endemic to N.S.W. only.

One of the species, L. strigosa (Sm.) R.Br. is quite a common and well-
known plant, being figured by Black (1964), Blombery (1967) and Burbidge
(1970), and photographed in colour in Cochrane et al (1968) and Rotherham
et al (1975). The other species, L. sapida R.Br. is not so well-known since
it is confined mainly to the lower Blue Mountains and, according to Bentham
(1869), was found along the banks of the Grose River, N.S.W.; Beadle et al
(1972) record it as being found on the Woronora Plateau, south of Sydney.
The material used for most of my study of Lissanthe sapida was collected
near Knapsack Gully, near Glenbrook, N.S.W.

The characteristic features of the genus are as follows:—

The corolla-tube is hairy inside about or above the middle; the corolla-
lobes being glabrous and valvate in bud, spreading or recurving upwards
when in full bloom. (It is from the glabrous lobes that Lissanthe receives its
name; it is from the Greek lissos, meaning smooth, and anthos, a flower). An
hypogynous disc is present; it is cup-shaped, being sinuate or five-toothed.
The ovary is five-locular. The drupaceous fruit is ellipsoid to globular in shape,
the mesocarp being pulpy, the endocarp being hard and bony and usually
five-celled; however there are often fewer cells by abortion (Bentham 1869,
Black 1964). The plants are small to medium-sized shrubs. Small flowers
are present in L. strigosa, but larger flowers are present in L. sapida. Two
bractecles and one bract, which do not overlap the calyx, as in many other
Epacridaceae genera, are present under each flower, more or less at the
base of the pedicel (see diagrams).

Bentham (1869) records the flowers of L. sapida as “small”, the corolla-
tube being ‘“2-2%2 lines long”, (5-6 mm), and Beadle et al (1972) record the
corolla-tube as “4-5mm”. The specimens | have examined in the lower
Blue Mountains have had a corolla-tube length of 7%2-11 mm. Beadle et al
(1972) states that L. sapida flowers from April to September; however, | have
also found it flowering during February and March.

KEY TO THE SPECIES OF LISSANTHE

A. Leaves linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, 10-35mm in length; with recurved
margins and a pungent mucronate tip. Flowers few in loose racemes;
corolla-tube mostly 9 mm long. Fruit red, 8-10 mm diameter.

Native Cranberry; L. sapida R.Br. (1810).

*A. Leaves linear, rigid, tapering to a pungent point, 4-15 mm long. Flowers
numerous, pink to white, in short dense racemes. Fruit palish or white,
up to 4 mm in diameter.

Peach Heath or Peach Berry, L. strigosa (Sm.) R.Br. (1810).

LISSANTHE SAPIDA

L. sapida (Native Cranberry), is an erect shrub to 2.5 m in height, having
linear-oblong to narrow-lanceolate leaves up to 35 mm in length. The flowers
are whitish or with a greenish tinge; the lobes usually coloured pale green
in the plants that | have examined. The immature drupaceous fruits are
green or green-yellow, becoming bright scarlet red when mature. They
measure up to 1cm in diameter, sometimes more. Willis (1963) states that
the fruit resembles the European cranberry in size and colour and that
these fruits are edible; | have tried eating them, but they appear to be
tasteless; the hard endocarp is not edible and the mesocarp is not thick
enough to make the fruits worthwhile eating. The plant flowers from February
to September. It is found in N.S.W. only.

PAGE 126—Vol. 9



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LISSANTHE STRIGOSA (Sm.) R.Br.

e, J~ (PEACH BERRY xPEACH HEATH)

USSANTHE STRIGOSA Sketch by Brlan Hawkeswood

(A to E: Scales as Indicated. C and D to same scale)

A. Branch of Peach Heath In bud and flower.

B. Raceme of four flowers.

C. Half flower dlagram, showing anther (a), and anther filament (f), style (st), ovary (o),
(not cut), sepal (se), and bracteoles (b).

D. Frult and a transverse sectlon showing pericarp (p), mesocarp (m), endocarp (e), and
a loculus (I).

E. Hablt study of Peach Berry.

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LISSANTHE SAPIDA R.Br. (1810) — Botanical Description

DC. Prod vil 742; Bot.Reg.t 1275; Bot. Mag. t. 3147; Styphelia sapida F. Muell. Fragm. vl 42

Erect, glabrous or minutely pubescent shrubs to 2.5 m in height, mainly
1 m, with spreading branches. Leaves aliternate, almost sessile, on very short
petioles 1-3 mm long; mainly 7-10 longitudinally veined (veins more prominent
on the under surface); oblong lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 10-35 mm long,
2-5 mm wide, mucronate tip 1 mm long, reddish, brown or black); leaves with
recurved margins, shining olive to dark emerald green above, pale on the
under surface, glabrous. Inflorescence a loose raceme, 3-5-flowered. Flowers
on pedicels 2-3.5 mm long, usually with two small bracts and one bracteole,
none of which overlap the calyx. Corolla-tube 7.5-10 mm long, somewhat
narrowed at the throat; lobes (five), 2.5-4 mm long equal, straight or curved,
glabrous and valvate in bud. Sepals (five), 0.5-1.5 mm in length, very broad
and obtuse, or slightly acute, the two outer ones usually thickened or
produced at the base. Style about 7-9 mm long, thick, almost as long or
longer than the corolla-tube, with small white hairs at the base, terminal on
ovary summit and persistent. Corolla-tube ringed with tufts of white hairs
about or above the middle. Tube white to pale green, the lobes tinged with
darker green. Anthers obtuse, filaments attached to the anther slightly above
the middle; the anthers wholly or partially enclosed within the corolla-tube,
alternating with the lobes. Filaments whitish, extremely thin, attached to
the sides of the corolla-tube. Hypogynous disc slightly toothed. Fruit is
drupaceous; ellipsoid to globular in shape; when mature, coloured bright
scarlet red and measures 8-12 mm in diameter, 5-locular (or fewer due to
abortion); endocarp thick, not separating into pyrenes, mesocarp fleshy or
pulpy: pericarp thin and smooth. Flowers Feb.-Sept.

For those who may wish to collect cuttings or seed, of L. sapida, from
the bush, where possible, the following places have had specimens collected
from them:— On hillsides near the Grose River; Mt. Caley, east of Mt.
Victoria; banks of the Nepean River near Mulgoa and Silverdale; Emu Plains;
Glenbrook; Erskine Creek (south of Glenbrook), on sandstone slopes; Linden;
Cataract Falls near Lawson; Kurrajong; Springwood; Valley Heights;
Blackheath; Wentworth Falls; Burragorang Mountain; Tahmoor (Bargo River)
and Yerrinbool. (In many of the areas above, e.g. Emu Plains, L. sapida
may have been eliminated due to urbanisation.)

LISSANTHE STRIGOSA

L. strigosa is a small shrub measuring up to about 60 cm high, erect or
procumbent, having small, narrow-linear-lanceolate leaves up to about 15 mm
in length. Flowers are in short axillary racemes which are crowded at the
ends of the branches. The flowers are white, or they may have a pinkish
tinge through them. The fruit is a white or pale fleshy drupe about 3-4 mm
diameter. Cribb (1975) lists the fruit as edible; being sweet-tasting when
ripe. The plant flowers from July to August. It is found in southern Queensland,
N.S\W., A.C.T., Victoria, S.A., and Tasmania.

Dried specimens examined in the National Herbarium of N.S.W., and the
Herbarium of the University of New England, have been collected from the
following places: Qld. — Wallangarra; Toowoomba; Oakey; various areas
around Brisbane; N.S.W. — Armidale, on rocky slopes; Glen Innes; Narrabri;
Tenterfield; Windsor; Capertee; Cox’s River; Glen Davis; Jenolan Caves;
Bathurst; most places on the Blue Mountains; Nowra; Canberra. Vic. — the
Grampians; Bairnsdale; also found in South Australia and Tasmania.

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N "/ LISSANTHE SAPIDA R.Br.
‘& (NATIVE CRANBERRY).

PLATE 2

LISSANTHE SAPIDA Sketch by Brian Hawkeswood.

om mo ow»

(A to E: scales as indicated; D and E to same scale; F and G to same scale)
Branch of Native Cranberry In bud, flower and frult.

A loose raceme of three flowers, two In bud.

Half flower diagram, showlng anther (a), filament (f), style (st), ovary (o), hypogynous
disc (d), sepal (se).

Frult with attached style.

Transverse section of a frult showing pericarp (p), mesocarp (m), endocarp (e) and
a loculus (I).

Undersurface of leaves showing characteristic oparallel venatlon and an axlllary bud.
Dorsal surface of leaves of Natlve Cranberry.

PAGE 129—Vol. 9



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LISSANTHE STRIGOSA (Sm.) R.Br. (1810) — Botanical Description

DC Prod vil 742; Hook.f.flora.Tasm. 1.247; Styphelia astrlgosa Sm. Specim. Bot. New. Holl. 48
(1793-95); F. Muell. Fragm. vi 42; Lissanthe subulata R.Br. Prod. 540; DC. Prod. vil 742;
L. intermedia A. Cunn; L. rigida Bentham In Hueg. Enum. 76.

A stiff, much-branched, bushy shrub, sometimes low and spreading, but
usually erect and attaining a height of 10-60 cm; the branches glabrous or
pubescent. Leaves alternate, narrow linear-lanceolate; rigid, shortly stalked,
flat or the margins recurved, mucronate, 4-15 mm long, about 1 mm wide;
upper surface glabrous, shining dark green, the under-surface glaucous, 3-5
longitudinally veined, the veins more prominent on the under-surface. Flowers
small, in short dense axillary racemes of 1-4 flowers, these crowded at the
ends of the branches, sometimes below a short terminal raceme having more
numerous flowers. Pedicels short, 0.5-1.5 mm in length, each subtended by
a small, obtuse, concave, ovate bract, which has ciliate margins; two ciliate
bracteoles are also present at the base of the pedicel. Sepals similar to
the bracts and the bracteoles, pinkish, ovate, obtuse, ciliolate, 1-1.56 mm
in length. Corolla- tube white or pinkish, constricted at the throat, 2-4 mm in
length, with short white scattered hairs inside above the middle; lobes shorter
than the tube, glabrous or with microscopic papillose hairs, straight or
spreading outwards. Stamens with short filaments 1-1.5 mm in length, joined
to the top of the corolla-tube; anthers half-exserted. Hypogynous disc shortly
5-lobed. Style much shorter or nearly as long as the corolla-tube, marked
by furrowed channels almost to the stigma; pubescent on lower half; stigma
small. Ovary 5-locular with a single pendulous ovule in each loculus,
pubescent, with dense white papillose hairs; fruit a fleshy white globular
baccate drupe, 2-4 mm diameter; style persistent on fruit. Fls. July/Aug.

In the past, another species of plant was included in the genus Lissanthe;
it was described under the name of L. montana, (Hooker 1857, Bentham 1869,
Maiden 1916, Curtis 1963). In 1956, J. H. Willis transferred this species to
the genus Leucopogon, since it resembled Leucopogon hookeri F. Muell.,
in many characteristics. Its new name was described as Leucopogon montanus
(R.Br.) J. H. Willis (Willis 1956, 1972). In some latest references (e.g. Curtis
1963), Leucopogon montanus is still described in the former genus.

L. montanus differs from the two species of Lissanthe by having sessile
flowers in which the two bracteoles clasp the base of the calyx, a feature
not present in Lissanthe. The flowers are dioecious (Bentham 1869, Curtis
1963); the flowers becoming unisexual by abortion of pollen or ovules
(Curtis 1963); the corolla-tube is glabrous inside above the middle. Willis
(1956) was convinced that the corolla-beard, so characteristic of the
Leucopogons, of L. montana, had either failed to develop or was reduced
to microscopic proportions. Microscopic evidence has shown that papillate
hairs are present on the lobes of the flowers of Leucopogon montanus, while
only minute papillose hairs are present on L. strigosa (Willis 1956). Fortunately
the strongest evidence to support the transfer of L. montanus to the genus
Leucopogon came in 1955, when S. Smith-White showed that the haploid
chromosone number in the true Lissanthe species was 7, while in L. montana,
the number was 14. The rest of the features of L. montanus, as described
in such references as Hooker (1857), Bentham (1869) and Curtis (1963), fit
the generic characteristics of the genus Lissanthe.

LISSANTHE and STYPHELIA

Ancther point | would like to make of critical interest concerns the
confusion of the reference of Lissanthe to the genus Styphelia. Cochrane
et al (1968) features Lissanthe strigosa as Styphelia strigosa, and should
be corrected accordingly to avoid confusion; many overseas workers combine
several genera of the Epacridaceae under Styphelia, but most botanists in
Australia regard these genera as separate; Styphelia differs from Lissanthe
in having an elongated cylindrical corolla-tube, the anthers well-projected
beyond the corolla-tube and the style much longer than the corolla-tube.

PAGE 130—Vol. 9



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HORTICULTURAL POTENTIAL

Lissanthe are attractive shrubs very suitable for gardens. The Epacridaceae
are notorious for being extremely difficult and perhaps impossible in many cases
to grow by seed, and | believe that Lissanthe is by no means an exception.
The fruits of Lissanthe ripen and drop to the ground during October to
December; in the ground, the mesocarp and the hard endocarp are broken
down by soil bacteria, etc., and the seeds are subsequently released into
the soil. It would be perhaps a good idea to collect soil from beneath
specimens in the field so as to try to obtain seeds which may be soon
germinating, for those who may wish to grow the plants by seed. Cuttings
are usually easier than seed to grow. The advice of Blombery (1970, 1973)
should be noted for the growing of Lissanthe by cuttings.

Cuttings should be grown in a cutting medium of sand and peat moss,
sand and loam, or the natural soil in which the original plant was growing,
with a small covering of humus on the top, i.e. rotting leaves and other
vegetative matter. If possible, the prepared mixture should be steam sterilized.
but pouring boiling water over the medium, and letting it drain after it has
been placed into cutting tubes or small pots, will be sufficient.

It is advisable to obtain cuttings of young tips of branches from the
most vigorous plants, or older branches, but material should be less than
5mm in diameter, since this wood is not as hard as the older wood and
will not dry out as quickly. The base of the cutting should be cut at an
angle or slant, or have a ‘“heel” that has been carefully torn from the
parent branch. The shoots can be left with the terminal bud attached or it
can be cut off. Cuttings should be kept moist before planting. After preparation
of the soil medium etc., the cuttings may then be placed in water containing
Formula 20 hormone solution or dipped in a plant cutting powder, as
directed on the respective bottles or packets, which contain the growth
regulators. They can be transferred to the cutting medium, and planted about
2-3cm deep. A moderate supply of water is required. A glasshouse should
be used to protect cuttings from winds, beating rains, overexposure to sun,
etc. If this is not possible, a sheltered position should be given to these.
L. sapida is found in dry or wet sclerophyll forests in its range; it appears to
prefer a sheltered and shady habitat away from wind and direct sunlight.
Good drainage is essential, since it prefers to grow on rocky or sandy
slopes, whereas L. strigosa inhabits open woodlands or unsheltered areas
where it gains the most benefit from the sun.

| have undertaken to grow Lissanthe by the above methods etc., and
will report on the successes (or failures) in a later issue. From recent reports
| have had, other attempts to grow Lissanthe by the above methods, either
by cuttings or seed, have been unsuccessful, but | feel that if perserverance
and tender care prevail, good results will be achieved. | believe that
Lissanthe sapida is an uncommon plant even with its own limited distribution
and that it may face extermination in the future, so any reports of successful
growing of Lissanthe will be greatly appreciated, by myself and other growers
interested in the cultivation and preservation of these attractive shrubs

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

| would llke to thank Professor N. C. W. Beadle and Mr. J. B. Wllllams of the Botany
Department, Unlversity of New England for checking the manuscript and glving kind remarks
regarding correctlons; also | would Ilke to thank Dr. L. A. S. Johnson of the National
Herbarlum of N.S.W. for allowing me to examine specimens for thls study.

DEANES ORCHID NURSERY

Speclalising In Australian Natlve Orchids
Please send for descriptlve list. Plants sent anywhere.
Nursery open every weekend — Weekdays phone 86-3446
157 BEECROFT ROAD, BEECROFT, N.S.W. 2119

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CLASSIFICATION OF THE EUCALYPTUS

You will notice a code of letters against each species opposite (MABEJ,
MABCC, etc.). As there are so many species and there is so much confusion
in their naming, the leading authorities, Prof. L. D. Pryor and Dr. L. A. S.
Johnson, have a prepared a booklet — “A Classification of the Eucalypts™.
This has been reprinted recently and is available by mail from the Editor,
Australian Plants, for $4.50 plus 80c postage. Further details will be in the
next issue.

Photography by F. W. Humphreys.

EUCALYPTUS OLDFIELDII

A beautiful western Eucalyptus growing to 4 m.

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FOURTEEN NEW EUCALYPTS FROM
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

M. I. H. Brooker — CSIRO Division of Forest Research, Canberra, A.C.T.

In the past few years many new Eucalyptus species have been discovered
or recognised in Western Australia. This has been made possible largely
by increased accessibility to remote sites and to a lesser extent by a closer
examination of known areas and the use of more refined taxonomic methods.

As might be expected, most of these species are very restricted in
distribution. They are all small trees or mallees and are fairly inconspicuous
with the exception of the fine timber tree, E. brevistylis, which was confused
for some years with red tingle (E. jacksonii). Few are of ornamental interest.
Notable are E. pendens with its slender stems and drooping canopies and
E. aquilina with its large, beautifully-sculptured fruits. Others like the shrubby
E. prominens and the white-barked trees E. fraseri and E. leucophloia may be
useful as ornamentals in arid areas.

All of these new species so far published belong in the two largest
subgenera of the most recent classification of Eucalyptus (Pryor and Johnson
1971)*. Their taxonomic positions in this system are indicated by the letters
at the end of the line in the following digests. The leaflet number of the Forest
Tree Series, published by the Forestry and Timber Bureau and latterly by the
CSIRO Division of Forest Research (1974-1977) is given in brackets after the
common name. Original descriptions are indicated in the References.

Eucalyptus acies — Woolburnup mallee (194) MABEJ

Eucalyptus acies is a smooth-stemmed mallee to 2.5 m tall with yellowish,
markedly quadrangular branchlets. The adult leaves are opposite to subopposite,
lanceolate to broad lanceolate, up to 15 x 3.5 cm, rigid with yellow midribs.
The umbels are axillary, 7-flowered; peduncles flat and down-turned; buds
pedicellate, up to 1 x 1cm, clavate and ribbed; fruit hemispherical to
obconical, up to 1.5 x 1.5cm with a prominent broad disc; valves 3-4, not
prominent.

Woolburnup mallee has a restricted distribution in the Fitzgerald National
Park and has been collected only on Thumb Peak, Middle Mount Barren
and Woolburnup where it grows among dense shrubbery on Proterozoic
quartzite rocks.

It is not closely related to any other species and is classified in a
subseries with E. calcicola (Hamelin Bay mallee) and E. ligulata (Lucky Bay
mallee).

Eucalyptus aquilina — Mt. Le Grand mallee (181) MABCC

Eucalyptus aquilina is a smooth-barked, multi-stemmed mallee to 5m
tall. The adult leaves alternate on the branchlets and are lanceolate or falcate,
up to 13 x 2.5cm, rather thick and slightly glossy. The umbels are axillary,
3-flowered; peduncles flat and finally downturned; buds sessile, turbinate
never strongly ribbed, up to 3.5 x 3.5cm, opercula hemispherical to low
conical: fruit obconical, up to 4 x 5cm, disc broad, rugose, red-brown and
shining when fresh, extending over the 5, 6 or 7 valves as raised, hooked lobes.

Mt. Le Grand mallee has a very restricted distribution and is known
only from two populations between Mt. Le Grand and Frenchman Peak. It
grows in dense clusters on hillslopes near creeks and in creek beds with
E. doratoxylon (spearwood) and E. ligulata (Lucky Bay mallee).

It is clearly related to E. coronata from which it differs in the smooth
buds and fruit, non-beaked opercula and bigger lobes to the disc. It occurs
well to the east of known occurrences of E. coronata.

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Eucalyptus balladoniensis — Balladonia mallee (200) SIT:Z

Eucalyptus balladoniensis is a few-stemmed mallee to 4 m tall. The bark
is held on the lower parts of the stem but above, it decorticates in long
strips to leave a smooth surface. The adult leaves alternate on the branchlets,
and are lanceolate, up to 13 x 2.5cm. The umbels are axillary, 7-flowered;
peduncles terete or slightly flattened, erect; the buds up to 2 x 1cm with
opercula prominently beaked; fruit hemispherical, up to 1.2 x 1.2cm, with
a broad, incurved disc and 4 exserted valves, hollowed at the back.

Balladonia mallee has only been collected northwest of Balladonia on
the Eyre Highway and between Balladonia and Zanthus. It grows on plains
and gentle slopes in open-scrub with E. transcontinentalis (redwood),
E. platycorys (Boorabbin mallee) and E. fraseri (Balladonia gum). The
understorey is usually spinifex, bluebush and saltbush.

It is not closely related to any other species but its bisected cotyledons
and smooth, grey elliptical seed place it at least in the Bisectaria near perhaps
the OLEOSAE and the MACROCARPAE.

Eucalyptus brevistylis — Rates tingle (153) MAE:A

Eucalyptus brevistylis a large tree to 40 m tall with brown, thick, fibrous,
longitudinally fissured bark to the small limbs. The adult leaves alternate
on the branchlets, and are lanceolate or falcate, asymmetrical at the base,
strongly discolorous, up to 10 x 3cm. The seedling and coppice leaves are
unique for species in the area as they are cordiform and petiolate. The
inflorescences are axillary or in more or less terminal clusters of umbels
with 11 or 13 flowers; peduncles slender, erect; buds ovoid to clavate, up
to 0.3 x 0.3 cm, with hemispherical opercula; fruit truncate-ovoid, prominently
wrinkled, up to 1 x 0.9 cm; disc inward-sloping; valves 3, sunken and obscure.

Rates tingle has a restricted distribution east and northeast of Walpole.
It grows on plains or gentle slopes on deep yellow podsols in tall, dense

forest with E. marginata (jarrah), E. calophylla (marri) and E. megacarpa
(bullich).

It is not closely related to any other species but belongs broadly in a
group with E. jacksonii (red tingle) from which it differs in the short operculum,
small style, rugose fruit, yellow wood, and petiolate, cordiform seedling leaves.
The wood is similar to that of the unrelated E. guilfoylei (yellow tingle).

Eucalyptus calcicola — Hamelin Bay mallee (154) MABEN

Eucalyptus calcicola is a small, smooth-stemmed mallee to 2.5 m tall
The adult leaves alternate on the branchlets, are lanceolate or falcate, up to
11 x 3cm. The umbels are axillary, 7-flowered; peduncles angular or flattened;
buds double-conic, coarsely ribbed, up to 1.5 x 1cm, opercula beaked or
conical; fruit obconical or cup-shaped, more or less sessile, strongly ribbed,
up to 1.5 x 1.6cm, often retained in dense clusters on old wood; disc
prominent, wide and slightly raised; valves 4, sunken.

Hamelin Bay mallee has a remarkably restricted distribution on the
westerly aspects of some massive calcareous dunes near Hamelin Bay west
of the karri forests and near to stands of stunted E. calophylla (marri) and
E. megacarpa (bullich). It was discovered by the well-known Western
Australian naturalist Harry Butler.

Ilts natural affinities are obscure and is probably closest to E. ligulata
(Lucky Bay mallee) from which it differs in the more coarsely-ribbed buds
and fruits, shorter buds and particularly in the shining, green, pointed
seedling leaves.

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Eucalyptus deflexa — Lake King mallee (201) SLI:H

Eucalyptus deflexa is a small, smooth-barked multi-stemmed mallee to
3 m tall. The adult leaves alternate on the branchlets and are small, lanceolate,
narrow-lanceolate or slightly falcate, up to 10 x 1cm, yellowish-green and
glossy. The umbels are 3-flowered, peduncles slender, long and down-turned;
buds cylindrical or ovoid with short opercula up to 1.2 x 0.5cm; fruit on
long pedicels, ovoid, up to 1.2 x 0.9cm; disc steeply depressed; valves
3. 4 or 5, deeply sunken. Flowers may be yellow or pink.

Lake King mallee has a distribution in the scrub north of Ravensthorpe,
particularly between Lake King and the Johnston Lakes. It grows on flats
and low rises in open-scrub with E. flocktoniae (merrit), E. pileata (capped
mallee), E. eremophila (tall sand mallee) and E. foecunda (narrow-leaved
red mallee).

In its floral morphology it does not resemble any other species although
the reniform cotyledons, inflected stamens, coarsely-pitted seed and glandular
pith place it with the mallees of the E. griffithsii — E. rugosa group.

Eucalyptus effusa — Rough-barked gimlet (202) SIK:1

Eucalyptus effusa is a small, straggly, few-stemmed mallee up to 4m
tall. The stem bark is not shed but partly decorticates in long strips. On the
smaller branches it sheds to leave a smooth surface. The adult leaves
alternate on the branchlets and are narrow-lanceolate up to 10 x 1.5 cm. The
umbels are 7-flowered; peduncles are short, slightly flattened or angular,
widening towards the top; buds cylindroid, up to 0.9 x 0.4 cm, opercula
being longer than the base; fruit cupshaped or obconical, up to 0.7 x 0.6 cm;
disc narrow; valves 3 or 4, barely exserted.

Rough-barked gimlet has a restricted distribution between the Fraser
Range and Balladonia. It grows in small stands in tall shrubland or tall
open-shrubland on gentle slopes and plains. The soil is highly calcareous
and often supports an understorey of spinifex (Triodia).

It is in the gimlet group of species being close to E. salubris (gimlet),
E. campaspe (silver-topped gimlet) and E. diptera (two-winged gimlet) from
which it differs, however, is lacking the characteristic fluted stems and in
retaining its outer bark.

Eucalyptus exilis — Boyagin mallee (155) MADAF

Eucalyptus exilis is a smooth-barked mallee to 6 m tall with slender,
straggling stems to 6cm diameter. The adult leaves alternate or are
sometimes subopposite, shortly petiolate, ovate-lanceolate, up to 7 x 1.2cm,
often narrowing, abruptly to a short point. The young branchlets are glaucous.
The umbels are axillary, up to 11-flowered; peduncles slightly flattened; buds
clavate to ovoid, up to 0.8 x 0.5cm; operculum hemispherical or broadly
conical; fruit ovoid or truncate-globular; up to 1.5 x 1.4cm; disc inward-
sloping; valves 4 obscure.

Boyagin mallee is distributed in the Mundaring Weir catchment, the
Boyagin Rock Reserve and the Wickepin Reserve. It grows on plains and
moderate slopes of poor lateritic soils in open scrub with E. accedens,
E. drummondii and dense sclerophyllous shrubbery.

It is closely allied to E. sepulcralis (weeping gum) and E. pendens
(Badgingarra mallee) from which it is easily distinguishable in the field by
its erect and non-pendulous canopy. It also has smaller buds, leaves and
fruit than these other two species.

PAGE 135—Vol. 9



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Eucalyptus fraseri — Balladonia gum SLE:J

Eucalyptus fraserii is a tree to 20 m tall with smooth, whitish or whitish-
grey bark. The adult leaves alternate on the branchlets and are narrow to
broad-lanceolate, up to 15 x 2.5cm. The umbels are axillary, 7-flowered;
peduncles usually short and stout, erect; buds subsessile, elongate-ovoid,
up to 1.5 x 0.5cm; opercula ribbed; fruit obconical or cupshaped, up to
1.2 x 0.8 cm; disc broad, level or inward-sloping; valves 4 to rim level.

Balladonia gum occurs from the Fraser Range eastwards towards
Balladonia and Mt. Ragged. It grows in low woodland on soils over limestone
with E. transcontinentalis (redwood) and E. flocktoniae (merrit) both of which
it resembles in habit.

It belongs in a large group of mallees and is close to E. conglobata
(Port Lincoln mallee) from which it differs in the tall, erect tree habit and
in the buds and fruit which taper at the base and are not completely sessile
as in E. conglobata.

Eucalyptus insularis — Twin Peak Island mallee (184) MADEM

Eucalyptus insularis has two distinct forms depending on the locality.
It occurs on North Twin Peak Island on the Recherche Archipelago as a
stout mallee to 8 m tall and near Cape Le Grand as a dense-canopied,
slender-stemmed, shrub to 2m tall. The adult leaves alternate on the
branchlets, and are small, narrow-lanceolate or lanceolate up to 7.5 x 0.8 cm,
often narrowing to a conspicuous slender hook. The umbels are axillary and
multi-flowered; peduncles slender and turned down; buds clavate, up to
0.6 x 0.3 cm, opercula hemispherical, fruit truncate-ovoid, up to 0.8 x 0.6 cm;
disc inward-sloping, red-brown and shining when fresh; valves 3, deeply
sunken.

Twin Peak Island mallee is known only from North Twin Peak Island
and near Cape Le Grand. On the island it grows amongst dense shrubbery
of similar height including Acacia heteroclita with E. lehmannii (bushy yate)
nearby. Near Cape Le Grand it grows in more open conditions at the western
end of a large granite rock again with E. lehmannii nearby. In both localities
it grows at the base of low rocky cliffs.

It does not resemble any other species although it clearly belongs with
the western group of Monocalyptus species.

Eucalyptus leucophloia — Migum (203) SNACIB

Eucalyptus leucophloia is a small, straggly tree to 10 m tall with smooth,
white, powdery bark often black-spotted. Foliage, buds, fruits and branchlets
can be glaucous. The adult leaves alternate on the branchlets and are
lanceolate, up to 10 x 2cm. Many individual trees are mature while the
canopy is in the intermediate stage when the leaves are opposite. The umbels
are axillary or are clustered towards the ends of branchlets, 7- or 11-flowered;
peduncles slender, short; buds ovoid or double conical, up to 0.9 x 0.5cm;
opercula hemispherical, corical or slightly beaked; fruit hemispherical or
cupular, up to 0.8 x 0.6 cm; disc obscure; valves 3, broadly based and usually
strongly exserted or sometimes smaller and only slightly exserted.

Migum is widely distributed. It occurs from the Pilbara region of Western
Australia eastwards across the continent to western Queensland. It grows
in low open-woodland commonly on low stony hills with a variety of other
eucalypts such as E. terminalis (inland bloodwood), E. argillacea (northern
grey box) and E. papuana (ghost gum).

It is close to E. brevifolia (northern white gum) with which it was once
included. E. brevifolia has a restricted northwestern Australia distribution
and differs clearly in the broad disc of the fruit.

PAGE 136—Vol. 9



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Eucalyptus ligulata — Lucky Bay mallee (182) MABEL

Eucalyptus ligulata is a small, multi-stemmed mallee to 3 m tall with
smooth bark. The umbels are axillary, 7-, 11-, or 13-flowered; peduncles
flattened, erect; buds double-conic, ribbed, up to 1.5 x 0.6 cm; opercula
pointed, wider than the base; fruit cupshaped to truncate-ovoid, shallowly
ribbed, up to 1.5 x 1.4 cm; with a red-brown, wide disc; valves 3, sunken.

Lucky Bay mallee is known only from Haul Off Rocks and the Cape Le
Grand area where it is very common around the base of Frenchman Peak
and at Lucky Bay. It grows in closed or open-scrub with E. aquilina (Cape
Le Grand mallee), E. doratoxylon (spearwood), E. tetragona (tallerack),
E. angulosa (ridge-fruited mallee) and E. uncinata (hook-leaf mallee).

Its natural affinities are not clear but is probably close to E. calcicola
(Hamelin Bay mallee) from which it differs in the blunt-ended, non-glossy
seedling leaves, and the more elongate, less coarsely-ribbed fruits.

Eucalyptus pendens — Badgingarra mallee (183) MADAD

Eucalyptus pendens is a remarkable, smooth-stemmed, whipstick mallee
to 5m tall with the canopy always finally drooping. The young branchlets
are shiny red beneath a white glaucous wax layer. The adult leaves alternate
on the branchlets and are lanceolate, tapering to a fine point, up to 12 x 2 cm.
The umbels are axillary, 7-, 11- or 13-flowered; peduncles oval or flattened
in section, up to 4cm long; buds clavate, up to 1.1 x 0.8 cm; opercula
hemispherical, apiculate; fruit truncate-ovoid, wrinkled, up to 2 x 2 cm; disc
reddish brown, inward-sloping; valves 4 or 5, sunken.

Badgingarra mallee occurs in a few sparse stands in the sandplain scrub
near Badgingarra. The mallees emerge well above the dominant, sclerophyllous
shrubbery and are conspicuous on the skylines. There are no eucalypts in
association although E. todtiana (prickly bark) and E. lane-poolei (salmonbark
wandoo) grow nearby.

It is closely allied to E. sepulcralis (weeping gum) from which it differs
in the smaller buds and fruit, and to E. exilis (Boyagin mallee) which has
smaller leaves and an erect canopy.

Eucalyptus prominens — Cape Range mallee (204) SI:G

Eucalyptus prominens is a few-stemmed mallee or shrub to 3m tall with
smooth bark or sometimes there is a stocking of non-decorticated
bark. The adult leaves alternate on the branchlets and are narrow-lanceolate
to lanceolate, up to 13 x 2 cm. The umbels are axillary, 7-flowered; peduncles
flattened, up to 1.5cm long; buds clavate, up to 1.3 x 1cm; opercula
hemispherical; fruit obconical, up to 1.2 x 1.3cm; disc narrow, inward-
sloping; valves 4 or 5, deltoid, exserted.

Cape Range mallee occurs only in the Exmouth Gulf region and is
common on the Cape Range where it grows in tall open-shrubland on slopes
with outcropping limestone and is associated with E. terminalis (inland blood-
wood) and a form of E. oleosa (red mallee).

It is closely allied to E. trivalvis (desert mallee) from which it differs
in the larger buds and fruit, the obconical shape to the fruit, and particularly
the exserted 4 or 5 valves.

REFERENCES
Brooker, M.I.H. (1972) — Four new taxa of Eucalyptus from Western Australla. Nuytsia 1,
242-253 (E. acies, E. pendens).
Brooker, M. I. H. (1974) — SIx new specles of Eucalyptus from Western Australla. Nuytsia 71,
297-314 (E. aquilina, E. brevistylis, E. calcicola, E. exilis, E. insularis, E. ligulata).
Brooker, M. |. H. (1976) — Six new taxa of Eucalyptus from Western Australla. Nuytsia 2,
103-117 (E. balladoniensis, E. deflexa, E. effusa, E. leucophloia, E. prominens).

Brooker, M.I.H. (1976) — Two new comblnatlons In Eucalyptus from Western Australla
Aust. For. Res. 7, 65-67 (E. fraseri).

Hall, N. and Brooker, M.I.H. (1974-1977) — Forest Tree Serles Leaflet Nos. 153, 154, 155,
164, 181, 182, 183, 184 (AGPS Canberra), 194, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204 (CSIRO, Melbourne).

Pryor, L.D. and Johnson, L. A. S. (1971) — ‘A Classlfication of the Eucalypts’ (Aust. Nat.
Unlv., Canberra).

White, B. J. (1971) — Tingle stand. Forest Notes, Forests Department, W. Aust. 9, 36-8

(E. brevistylls).
PAGE 137—Vol. 9



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BELBRA NURSERY

in the heart of the Gramplans

LARGE RANGE OF AUSTRALIAN
NATIVES

Closed Wednesday only
BOX 12, HALL'S GAP, VIC. 3381

NAROOMA NATIVE NURSERY

(H. & N. RYAN, Proprletors)
15 TILBA STREET, NAROOMA, N.S.W.
2546 — Phone 132
Good varlety of natlve plants
Catalogue avallable 10 cents

"WIRRIMBIRRA

Hume Highway, between Tahmoor and
Bargo, N.S.W.
AUSTRALIAN PLANTS

Wide Range — Phone: Bargo 84-1112
OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK

CHIVERS’ NATIVE PLANT
NURSERY

26 Cowper Road, Black Forest, S.A
5035 — Phone: 93-7808
Open April-May
Catalogue avallable — Send 18c stamp
No Interstate Orders

Huge selectlon from grounc
cover to trees, rare and the

= AA C%ustlalig common, slzes large or smal!

COLLECTORS URSERIES uéu\“s :wg SPECIALIST Open Saturday and Sunday

Cnr. BELLEVUE CRES. and SEAFORD RD. SEAFORD Vic. 3198

(Closed Mon. and Tues.)

PRESERVATION BY CULTIVATION Closed Tuesdays

FI.ORALANDS

KARIONG, via GOSFORD, N.S.W. 2250 — Prop. Brlan & Lyn Parry
A large varlety of the most popular natlve plants at nursery
PHONE: Gosford 25-1142 Send self-addressed envelope for plant list

AUSTRALIAN NATIVE PLANTS

A FOREST
@ NATIVE

Bl NURSERY

FOR SYDNEY GARDENS

$2.50 posted (Catalogue)

9 Namba Road, Duffy’s Forest, N.S.W.
(beside Waratah Park), (02) 450-1785

Nindethana Native Plant
Seeds
By Packet, Ounce or Pound
Large selectlon. Send for free llist.

NINDETHANA
Narrlkup, 6326, W.A.

MICHIE’'S KENTLYN NATIVE
PLANT NURSERY

Speciallsing In Australlan Plants
Beth & Bob Michle Invite you to call

96c George's River Road, Kentlyn, 2560
Phone: Campbelltown 25-1583
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday only

WHALAN'S NURSERIES

176 GRINSELL STREET, KOTARA, 2288.

Phone: Newcastle 57-1223

Situated right next to the famous Blackbutt Reserve In Newcastle

All types of natlve plants, advanced and small, Including Crowea, Correa, Erlostemon
Boronla, Calllstemon, Melaleucas, Damplerll,

Hypocalymma, and numerous others.

Many new and exclting types
WHALAN’S NURSERIES — KOTARA

Lakkari Native Plant Nursery
Russell & Sharon Costin
Wide range of all common varletles,
many Interesting and hard-to-get plants,
new Introductions from North Queens-
land and other troplcal areas.
477 REDLAND BAY ROAD,
CAPALBA, QLD. 4157 — 206-4119
(Closed Thursdays)

PARSONS NATIVE PLANT
NURSERY

Trees, Shrubs, Ground Cover, Cilimbera
Speclallsing In Grevilleas

Open Thur., Frl.,, Sat., 9-5; Sun. 8-1
warrandyte Road, Research, Vic. 3098&

TASMANIAN FOREST SEEDS

T. WALDUCK
"“Summerleas Farm’, Kingston, Tas. 7150
All Tasmanlan Tree Specles and
Ornamental Shrubs.

Sales by packet or in bulk.
Send S.A.E. for free list.

AUSTRALIAN PLANTS CENTRE

(John & Joan Barton)

Large varlety of natlves.
Speclallsing In rockery plants
Retall only — No mall orders

Plne Rldge Rd., Coombabah, Qld. 4213

Phone Gold Coast 37-1227

Closed Mondays (except Pub. Hols.)

PAGE 138—Vol. 9



@@@ 47 @@@



PAST ISSUES OF ‘AUSTRALIAN PLANTS” AVAII.ABlE
Because of the vast wealth of our flora there Is very little repetition.

VOLUME No. 1 Issues 1-12 — to be reprinted In 1978. Watch for announcements.
VOLUME No. 2. Issues 13-20, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00 postage.
Including ‘A Descrlptive Catalogue of Western Australlan Plants’.
VOLUME No. 3. Issues 21-28, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00
including also ‘‘Catalogue of Cultlvated Australlan Natlve Plants’ valued at $6.00.
VOLUME No. 4. Issues 29-36, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00
including ‘‘Western Australlan Plants for Hortlculture—Part 1’ valued at $6.00.
VOLUME No. 5. Issues 37-44, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00
Including “The Language of Botany”, a valuable reference to words and terms.
VOLUME No. 6. Issues 45-52, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00
Including “‘Western Australlan Plants for Horticulture—Part |1I”’ valued at $6.00.
VOLUME No. 7. Issues 53-60, all avallable only fully bound at $9.00 plus $1.00
Including ‘““‘North Australlan Plants’” valued at $6.00.

VOLUME No. 8. Issues 61-68. All [ssues are available separately. The bound volume wil!
not be available until Dec. 1977 — each Issue $1.00 Inc. post.

VOLUME No. 9. Issues 69-76. Each Issue to date avallable at $1.00 post free. Blnders
tor holding loose lIssues. No. 9 only avallable $3.00 plus 60c postage.

“Australlan Plants’ Is produced as a contlnulng serles, each Issue adding to the
Informatlon recorded over the past Issues. The most valuable and complete reference.

postage.
postage.
postage,
postage,

postage.

BINDERS FOR HOLDING AUSTRALIAN PLANTS

We have avallable at the moment D-ring binders attractively finished In green viny! with
gold lettering, numbered 7, 8 or 9. They cost $3.00 plus 60c postage.

OTHER BOOKS OF THE SOCIETY

West Australian Plants for Horticulture. Parts 1 & 2, each avallable at $6.00 plus 80c
postage from the Editor. On the right-hand pages of these books there Is a full colour plate
of a W.A. woldflower and on the page opposite Is a description of this plant together with
another plant or plants from the same genus. The descriptions are clear and In simple
terms with a speclal sectlon on propagation and horticulture treatment and potentlal. Part
2 most recently published carrles 42 new colour plates.

West Australian Plants—A descriptive Catalogue (2nd Sdition). $6.00 plus 60c post.
The only complete reference to the flora of Western Australla.

NORTH AUSTRALIAN PLANTS — 1 by Jenny Harmer. Price $6.00 plus 60c postage.

This Is the first book glving a reasonable coverage to the flora In the North of Australia
and will be an authoritative reference to It. There Is a reference to 380 specles. While this
Is a lot of flowering plants, It Is stlll a long way short of the Northern Australian flora. As
such It Is Part | of a serles and describes those plants of hortlcultural Interest that are to
be found In the Darwin area and Arnhem Land, known locally as the ‘“‘top-end’ of the territory.

THE LANGUAGE OF BOTANY — by C. N. Debenham. Price $3.90 plus 60c post.

This exceptional reference to the terms and ‘‘jargon’” used In botanlical literature Is
once agaln avallable. It has become a standard reference text throughout Australla.

NAN GANA NATIVE PLANTS NURSERY i :NAuTIVE PLfAr:;Il.veNpll:rEsSEIEcYlud
xtenslve range of n A -
COCKATOO — WOORI-YALLOCK ROAD Ing many rare or difficult to obtaln
6.4 km from Cockatoo, Vic. specles. Natlve bird feeders avallable
. Mt. Martha Shopping Centre,
Large Range, including over 100 Grevilleas

Mornington Penlinsula, Vlctorl1u.92
PHONE: 059 68-8337 (closed Tues and Wed. only) Phone Mt. Martha (STD 069) 74-17

weekdays. (Open weekends only.)

ALEXANDER PLANT FARM
(Doug Twalts, Prop.)

2 Winlfred Street, ESSENDON, VIC. 3040
Phone: 379-5163
EVERYTHING FOR THE GARDEN
Speclallsing In Australlan Natlve Plants

Cranebrook Native Nursery
R23 Cranebrook Rd., Cranebrook, NSW

4 mlles north of Penrlth, between
Tadmore and Taylor Rds.

Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sundays.
(047) 77 4256 — No Mail Orders

"“CEDAR WATTLES"
89 BLUES POINT ROAD, NORTH SYDNEY
NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, GROUND COVERS, CLIMBERS, FERNS

Open Wed. to Sun. 10a.m.-5p.m., and by arrangement
Phone 929-6583

PAGE 139—Vo!



@@@ 48 @@@



Banksia of the North

Photography by J. Harmer.

BANKSIA DENTATA

TOP LEFT: The woody fruiting cone of Banksia dentata.

TOP RIGHT: Banksia dentata growing amongst annual grasses at the edge of a swamp In
the McMinns area

BOTTOM: The dense cylindrical flowering spike of Banksia dentata.

PAGE 140—Vol. 9 Surrey Beatty & Sons, Printers