Australian Plants online - Subscribers' NewsletterNumber 2 - February 1998Published by The Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants CONTENTS
1. About this Newsletter
This is the second online newsletter issued to subscribers to "Australian Plants online" (plus a number of others whom, I thought, might be interested). The aim is to provide a bit more contact between the Society for Growing Australian Plants and the online community than is possible through APOL alone.
A number of the questions sent to the Society's web site would benefit from input from Australian plant enthusiasts everywhere, so the newsletter will facilitate this input (a mailing list would be better but that's a bit further down the track!) If you can assist with a particular question, please contact the person involved directly and also send a copy to me....your response might also be of interest to others.
The Newsletter will probably not issue at any specific time interval. I'll issue it when enough material is to hand or when I need to pass on information quickly.
2. A Name for the Newsletter?
If the newsletter becomes more or less ongoing, should it have a name? Send me your suggestions....serious or (preferably) frivolous!
3. Site Transfer update
Transfer of the web site to the Charles Sturt University has commenced but it will not be operational until early-mid March. This may mean that the next issue of APOL will be delayed slightly as it can't be put on line until the transfer is complete
4. Some Dates for Your Diary
If you happen to be within driving distance of the following plant sales, don't miss the chance to pick up a few bargains!
Oakland California Sunday March 22; 10am to 2pm
The California Horticulture Society will be holding their annual sale at the Lakeside Park Garden Centre in Oakland (off the Grand Ave. exit from Hwy 580, near Lake Merrit).
Thousands of plants will be available for you to choose from.. Cal Hort members will be available to give advice about any of the plants for sale.
Leopold (Geelong region), Victoria - Plant Sale Saturday 28 to Sunday 29, March 1998
To be held at "Uranagong", 25 Melaleuca Road, Leopold (Geelong region), this annual event will feature 1000s of Australian native plants for sale at very reasonable prices. There will also be book sales, display garden, light refreshments and a BBQ. Adults $2.00; children free.
Campbelltown, New South Wales - Plant Sale/Art Show Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 April 1998
To be held at the Mt Annan Botanic Garden. A wide range of displays and activities is being arranged including propagation demonstrations (grafting and cutting), guided tours of the nursery and collections, guided walks through the Botanic garden, art works based on the Australian flora ....and lots, lots, lots of plants for sale!.
The Botanic Garden entrance is signposted on Narellan Road, about 1 km north of the Camden exit from the South Western Freeway.
Grovely, Queensland - Plant Sale Sunday 19 April 1998
An annual sale with many species not commonly available and including native daisies, grevilleas, bush tucker plants, etc. The sale will be held at the Grovely TAFE college.
5. Hello from Sweden
Nathanael Simonsson is 16 years old. He is interested in the Australian flora and will be attending high school in Brisbane next year for 12 months. He is interested in contacting people in Australia with the aim of exchanging seeds. He has about 1.000 species of Swedish native plants and his seedlist is online at:
http://www.torget.se/users/k/Kohleria/Frolista.txt
I have advised Nathaneal of the addresses of several Australian seed suppliers and also mentioned that exchange of seeds internationally can be difficult as many countries require that an inspection by quarantine officials be undertaken and that a Phytosanitary Certificate accompany the consignment. He has assured me that Sweden has no specific restrictions on seed imports (he has received seeds and other plant material from from Tasmania, New Zealand, USA, Hawaii, Germany, Singapore and other countries without any problems).
Nathanael's address is: kohleria@hotmail.com
6. Politically (In)correct
A few months ago there was a discussion on the Medit-Plants mailing list about political correctness in regard to plant names. It arose because of the name "Kaffir Lily" which is applied to Clivia miniata. The original author wrote:
" We had a visitor to the garden anonymously inform us that the word "kaffir" is equivalent to the word "nigger." Is this true? For those of you in other countries where the word is not considered offensive, how would you respond? I'm not aware of the word "kaffir" being derogatory in the States."
The discussion went on for a week or so with the majority suggesting an alternative name would be preferable (many suggested to just call it "Clivia" as it's not a particularly difficult name to pronounce).
The reason I'm raising this is because there are several Australian plants which have "uncomfortable" common names. The one most often used is "blackboy" for Xanthorrhoea species. My understanding is that the name dates from early colonial times and refers to the supposed resemblance of the black trunk and spear-like flower stem to an aborigine holding a spear.
Personally, I don't think there can be any justification for perpetuating "blackboy" as a common name and you won't find it on the SGAP web site (where the alternative, "grass tree", is used).
There is at least one other (less common) example that comes to mind and that is "Niggerhead" or "Negrohead" beech for Nothofagus moorei.
Am I being over sensitive about this? What do you think?
7. Hummock Grasses
The following note was received from Phil Davids:
"I am currently working (PhD) on Australian Hummock Grasses (Triodia sp, Lazarides 1997) mainly looking at their seed biology for regeneration purposes (all Plectrachne and Triodia species are now in the same genus Triodia, representing 64 species).
Should anyone be interested in hummock grasses, I am only too happy to collaborate. My full contact details are:
Phil Davids
8. Banksia Growing in the Himalayas
Ganesh Mani Pradhan is a keen grower in the north-east Himalayan Mountains and he contacted me for information on growing banksias. At present he has email but no access to the web site so I sent him the text of the Banksia web page. He is keen to correspond with banksia growers in Australia to "exchange ideas and tips for better adapting these plants to our area."
If you'd like to correspond with Ganesh, his email address is: gmps.kpg@sikkim.org
9. Jelly Bush????
Did anyone see the story on an Australian native plant which was referred to as "Jellybush"? I wasn't paying attention when it appeared as a short segment on television late last year. The plant supposedly had some beneficial medicinal properties which were the subject of research.
I asked John Wrigley about this and he wasn't sure either but on "talking to some bee keepers, jelly bush is the name they give to two leptospermums, L. laevigatum and L.polygalifolium. The reason is that the nectar produces very thick honey. Whether this is the same jelly bush mentioned in the TV segment, I don't know."
So, does anybody know? And, if so, what are the beneficial properties of the plant?
10. Casuarina Regeneration after Fire
Anne I'ons (anneions@dynamite.com.au) wrote:
"Could some kind person please point me to information, either on two legs or in a book/magazine, gov publication etc etc on casuarina regeneration?
The recent fire on Mt Taylor appears to have destroyed many copses of well matured and young casuarina Verticillata and we wish to know more about the possibility of regeneration by regrowth or seeding? Years for this to happen, etc etc."
I wasn't much help with this so I hope some readers might be better able to help. My reply was:
"There are several publications on fire and the Australian flora but these tend to concentrate on eucalypt response. I haven't seen anything significant on Casuarina. The only info I have to hand at present is the following short reference in "Coping with Fire" by A M Gill in "The Biology of Australian Plants" edited by J S Pate and A J McComb.
'Both Banksia ericifolia and Casuarina distyla of the heathlands turn out to be category 1 species. Although readily killed by fire, These species store seeds in dry dehiscent fruits of their canopies and when these seeds are released shortly after fire a source of regeneration is assured.'
(Note: Category 1 species are those which die with 100% leaf scorch but have seed storage on the plant.)"
11. Edna Walling
Kristine Taylor (krisdon@powerup.com.au) is interested in finding information on Edna Walling (a famous name in Australian landscape gardening) - both on her personal life and on her garden designs.
I was able to track down some publications by Anne O'Donovan (which I mentioned to Kristine), but, perhaps, others might know of other sources.
12. New Book - Growing Australian Plants in Europe Tim Longville, writing from "a wild and wet and windy Solway Firth" in the UK advises that a new book - " Australian Plants: A Guide To Their Cultivation In Europe" has recently been published. The authors are Jeff Irons and Thomas Ross. Jeff is a member of SGAP and is also the Secretary of the Australasian Plant Society in the UK.
I haven't seen the book but it must be good as it includes some of my slides (that's my last ego-trip, promise!). Tim reckons that it's a "very handsomely produced book, too, as well as an informative one: a real pleasure to have it."
The book sells for 25 pounds Sterling + 4 pounds P & P. I presume you can get it direct from Jeff at:
"Stonecourt",
A sad postscript to the book is that Thomas Ross died before it was published
13. Missing Jasmine
Mary Lenarduzzi has been trying to buy a Jasminum lineris for ten years and can't find anyone who has one. She writes:
"I bought a couple from SGAP in Canberra in 1985 or thereabouts - they didn't do at all well - until we moved to South Australia. In the Adelaide hills they found a new lease of life and thrived until the dog dug them up. I have been trying to replace them ever since..... why isn't this plant grown for cultivation more frequently? "
Why indeed? In fact, why aren't other native jasmines grown more often? I have Jasminum suavissimum and it is a wonderful plant - not excessively vigorous and with a magnificent perfume.
Anyway, if anyone knows a source of J.linearis, please let Mary know. (mlenarduzzi@chariot.net.au).
14. Earth Mother
Martin Storey has an interesting project......
"I am currently working on two species which have anecdotal evidence showing they require Mother Soil (ie soil from around the natural site) in order for cuttings to strike, they are Ricinocarpos pinifolius and Tetratheca ciliata. I am studying Mycorrhizal fungi at Queensland University and am conducting experiments on these two species to see if it is a Mycorrhizal relationship which allows them to strike and if it is so what is this relationship as cuttings do not have any roots for the plants to relate to!
I would like to know if anyone has had experienced particular success with any plants grown in "Mother Soil" as opposed to plants grown in potting mix. If there is any anecdotal evidence for better germination or better strike rate of cuttings please contact me by email (mvstorey@hotmail.com) or post to 36 Rangeview St Rochedale 4123, or phone (H) 32199105 or (W) 33657338."
I'm absolutely no help with this one so, over to you!!!
15. Mistletoe and the Mistletoe Bird
Roxanne Sponnoble (rachaelg@gil.com.au) is visiting from Hood River in Oregon and would appreciate any observations on the relationship between the mistletoe bird and the mistletoe plant. Any further source of information on these would be greatly appreciated.
16. Germination - Help Needed!
Sjaan Bidwell is a PhD student at Melbourne University. He has been trying to germinate seed of Hybanthus floribundus with no success. Is there anyone who may may have had success germinating this species or growing from cuttings ? He is also after some seed of Pimelea leptospermoides and Stackhousia tryonii which are endemic to the serpentine areas in central Queensland.
If you can help, please contact Sjaan at: s.bidwell@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Finally.......
Those of you who are subscribers to the SGAP's print publication "Australian Plants" might not be aware that a comprehensive index to Volumes 1 to 18 will be available shortly. The Index covers all issue from 1959 to the end of 1996. It will be available in a printed form but it will also be available in an electronic form, in Microsoft Word format. I already have a copy and it has made the information in my collection of "Australian Plants" much more accessible in dealing with enquiries to the web site.
I don't know the cost yet but, if you are interested in a copy, let me know and I'll get the details to you.
Best wishes Brian
Brian Walters, |