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1
Newsletter
of the
Society for Growing
Australian Plants
Townsville Branch Inc.
PO Box 363, Aitkenvale, Qld. 4814.
sgaptownsville.org.au Abelmoschus moschatus
subsp. tuberosus
Chairman ….. Janice Lough j.lough@aims.gov.au
Vice Chairman Rex Grattidge rgr57487@bigpond.net.au
Treasurer ….. Keith Townsend noeltownsend@bigpond.com
Secretary ….. John Elliott jw-elliott@aapt.net.au
Newsletter … Val Colquhoun crabfami1@bigpond.com
Librarian ….. Rex Grattidge
Provedore …… Jane McLean
On Wednesday 8th October at 8pm
Rex Grattidge
will present a talk entitled
‘Grafting’
OctoberOctoberOctoberOctober
2014201420142014
Next Meeting
8.00pm Wednesday
8thOctober
Community Centre, Annandale Shopping
Centre
Committee Meeting
27thOctober
7.30pm
Dates to Remember
12thOctober- Sunday
Outing to Palmetum
See pg 6 for details
This Issue
From September
meeting 2
SGAP in flower 3
The Tech spot 4
September outing 4
Species list Alli Ck 5
Communications 6
From Elsewhere
1&2 6-8
Membership 9
2
From the September meeting
Wongaloo……
True to his word Mark Stoneman and his wife appeared at the September meeting.
What an interesting well-presented talk! Mark’s talk was titled “The Journey continues”
The main points addressed were:-
–The habitat – very late ‘wet’ flood.
Cyclone Dylan – high salt weed reduction.
Apparently normal – but – tidal salt intrusion.
Open water-
Changes in 2014
No geese nesting
Swans
No swamp hens.
Huge black duck numbers
No Caspian terns
Jabiru ‘chick-failure’
Feral pig reduction.
Habitat Rehabilitation
Pink Bauhinia removal-forest fringe
Lantana clearing- woodlands
Constrain- control fencing
Weed spraying regime
Control benefit
Birds / swamp / cattle
Tourism progress – slow
‘Blue Goose’ bus
Glamping
Hold ups with rail crossing
Grey nomad access
Many thanks to Mark for taking the time to come to the meeting and share his enthusiasm with us.
We look forward to the next progress report. Many of us who are new to SGAP did not previously know of
the plans for this wetland project.
SGAP is glad to be able to provide an up to date species list.
3
SGAP in flower –
Acanthaceae Graptophyllum excelsum
Graptophyllum ilicifolium
Amaryllidaceae Proiphys amboinensis (Cardwell Lily)
Annonaceae Fitzalania heteropetala
Caesalpiniaceae Maniltoa lenticellata
Cassia sp. ‘Paluma Range’
Cochlospermaceae Cochlospermum gillivraei
Dilleniaceae Dillenia alata
Lecythidaceae Barringtonia acutangula
Pittosporaceae Bursaria tenuifolia
Myrtaceae Xanthostemon verticillatus
Xanthostemon youngii
Leptospermum flavescens ‘Cardwell’
Syzygium australe
Callistemon 'Captain Cook'
Callistemon 'Pink Alma'
Proteaceae Grevillea banksii
Grevillea 'Birdsong'
Grevillea 'Dorothy Gordon'
Grevillea 'Flamingo'
Grevillea 'Firesprite'
Grevillea 'Little Honey'
Grevillea 'Moonlight'
Grevillea pteridifolia
Grevillea venusta
Darlingia darlingiana
Rubiaceae Gardenia psidiodes
Timonius timon
Larsenaikia ochreata
Rutaceae Flindersia brayleyana
4
The TECH SPOT organised by KeithAt the September meeting – a
practical investigation!
The members who participated in the
flower parts identification really enjoyed this learning (or re-learning for
some) experience.
“These are the stamens.’
‘It is inferior isn’t it?”
“Oh, it is attached to the petal!”
“Ah look, that’s the female parts.”
Outing in September:- To Alligator Creek (Mt Elliot Section) of Bowling Green Bay National Park
We had very pleasant weather for our walk along the bank and the boardwalk and back through the bush road to
the picnic table where morning tea was enjoyed. There were not a lot of plants in flower but armed with a list
provided by Scott we managed to check off quite a few and were even able to add some more (efficiently recorded
by Jane). Nanette tweaked the list and for the complete version please consult the Townsville SGAP website. The list
below is quite incomplete, due to lack of space, in addition I have removed the introduced species. Charlie provided
the following few photos which you may like to identify.
5
Abutilon auritum Denhamia disperma Mallotus polyadenos
Abrus precatorius Diospyros geminata Marsdenia microlepis?
Acacia holosericea Dodonaea viscosa Melaleuca fluviatilis
Acacia leptostachya Drypetes deplanchei Melaleuca leucadendra
Acacia spirorbis subsp. solandri Elaeodendron melanocarpum Melaleuca viminalis
Aidia racemosa Erythrina vespertilio Melia azedarach
Albizia procera Eucalyptus crebra Memecylon pauciflorum
Alchornea thozetiana Eucalyptus platyphylla Micromelum minutum
Alectryon connatus Eugenia reinwardtiana Milletia pinnata
Alectryon tomentosus Euroschinus falcata Mimusops elengi
Alphitonia excelsa Evolvulus alsinoides Mnesithea rottboellioides
Alstonia scholaris Exocarpos latifolius Myrsine variabilis
Alyxia spicata Ficus congesta Nauclea orientalis
Amyema cambagei Ficus hispida Pachygone ovata
Antidesma parvifolium Ficus opposita Passiflora aurantia
Aphananthe philippensis Ficus racemosa Phyllanthus novaehollandiae
Atractocarpus fitzlanii Ficus virens Physalis angulata
Breynia cernua Fitzalania heteropetala Pipturus argenteus
Bursaria incana Flueggea virosa Planchonia careya
Cajanus marmoratus Ganophyllum falcatum Pleiogynium timorense
Cajanus reticulatus Geijera salicifolia Pogonolobus reticulatus
Canarium australianum Geitonoplesium cymosum Polyalthia nitidissima
Capparis sepiaria Glochidion lobocarpum Polyscias elegans
Castanospermum australe Gossia bidwillii Pseuderanthemum variable
Casuarina cunninghamiana Grevillea parallela Psydrax odorata
Cayratia trifolia Grewia latifolia Pterocaulon sphacelatum
Cheilanthes sieberi Grewia retusifolia Rapanea variabilis
Chionanthus ramiflora Guioa acutifolia Sauropus albiflorus
Cissus oblonga Harpullia pendula Scleria sphacelata
Claoxylon tenerifolium Helicteres semiglabra Senna gaudichaudii
Cleistanthus xerophilus Heteropogon contortus Sida subspicata
Clerodendron floribundum Heteropogon triticeus Smilax australis
Cochlospermum gillivraei Indigofera sp.(australis or pratensis) Sorghum nitidum
Commersonia bartramia Ipomoea sp. Spermacoce sp.
Cordia dichotoma Jagera pseudorhus Stephania japonica
Corymbia clarksoniana Jasminum didymum Syzygium australe
Corymbia dallachiana Jasminum didymum subsp.racemosum Tacca leontopetaloides
Corymbia tessellaris Larsenaikia ochreata Terminalia sericocarpa
Crotalaria calycina Litsea glutinosa Themeda triandra
Croton arnhemicus Livistona sp. Trophis scandens
Cryptocarya triplinervis Lomandra longifolia Turraea pubescens
Cupaniopsis anacardioides Lophostemon grandiflorus Tylophora williamsii
Cycas media Macaranga tanarius Vachellia bidwillii
Cymbopogon sp. Mallotus philippensis Xenostegia tridentata
6
COMMUNICATIONS OCTOBER OUTING:-
We have decided, as it is now getting
warm, to visit the Palmetum for our
outing on Sunday 12th October.
We will meet at 9am in the car park,
and will explore the rainforest section
in order to complete our species list
which we began in May 2014.
Please bring morning tea, hat,
mosquito repellent, etc.
From elsewhere -1
At the SEPTEMBER meeting John brought along a couple of local young palms of a
vulnerable species called Livistona lanuginosa. These palms were placed in the care of
two of our more established members.
Some information provided by the Palm Specialist Group follows.
Livistona lanuginosa Rodd
Status: Vulnerable (Dowe 1998; Rodd 1998; Henderson 2002)
Common name:- Wooly Livistona, Wooly Cabbage-Palm, Cape River Livistona, Burdekin Livistona.
Natural range Livistona lanuginosa is confined to the Burdekin River catchment in north eastern Australia between S20º19’20.8” to
S21º36’23.9” and E145º36’11.18” to E147º19’20”, with an altitudinal range
of 140–270 m. It is a riparian species occurring primarily along the banks of
braided stream systems and adjacent floodplains in sandy alluvial soils
mostly derived from granite. The climate of the Burdekin River system is
strongly seasonal, with unreliable monsoonally influenced summer rain
patterns. The average annual rainfall is 600–700mm, and extreme
temperatures range from 5–45ºC, in an otherwise semi-arid tropical
environment. The total population of Livistona lanuginosa consists of not
more than ca. 700 mature adults. The main occurrence is in the lower Cape
River system (which is an inland tributary of the Burdekin River), on both
the Cape River and most of its primary and secondary tributaries.
Populations most commonly occur in more or less linear stands along
stream edges. There are a few disjunct populations away from the Cape
River within the Burdekin River system, but no further than 40 km from the
main population on the Cape River and its tributaries.
Recognition characteristics Livistona lanuginosa is a single stemmed fan-palm,
growing to a maximum height of 18 m and a diameter at breast height of 25–35 cm. The
leaves, about 40, are produced in a rounded crown. The petioles are armed on the
margins with single curved spines in the proximal portion. The leaf blade is circular in
outline, pale gray-green above, and a lighter gray-green below. The leaf blade is regularly
divided into 70–90 segments in mature palms. Segments have a thin coating of w wax on
both surfaces. The paniculate inflorescences are borne within the leaves and are about
200 cm long but not extending beyond the crown.
7
The bracts on the inflorescence are covered in a dense woolly
tomentum [lanuginose = woolly], hence both the scientific and
common names. Bisexual flowers, yellow to about 3 mm long,
are abundant, and crowded onto thin rachillae.
Fruit are globose, to 25–35 mm diameter, and brown to black at
maturity. The endocarp is ca. 2 mm thick and woody. The seed is
globose, about 25 mm in diameter. The hard endosperm is
partially intruded on one side by a kidney-shaped seed coat
intrusion. Apart from some minor horticultural applications, the
palm has no known uses.
Natural history The few targeted ecological studies of Livistona lanuginosa were those conducted by the author in general
investigation of the genus Livistona in Australia (Dowe 2001), and a survey to determine population structure and
dynamics of the species (Pettit & Dowe 2003). Livistona lanuginosa is functionally dioecious and appears to be
primarily wind-pollinated. Flowering occurs in the driest part of the year (Spring), and fruiting usually coincides with
the Summer rains some 4–6 months later. Fruits are mainly dispersed by flood waters and settle in debris piles on
the stream banks where seeds germinate and seedlings become established. It is not known if mammals or birds are
involved in additional seed distribution.
Seed germination occurs in the summer following seed-set, and seeds require relatively deep burial as the emergent
seedling roots can extend for as much as 100 cm downward into the soil. Subsequent growth is initially slow and, at
least in cultivated plants, maturity is reached in 15–20 years. Population structure at most sites follows the reverse-J
curve model, with large numbers of seedlings and subsequent decreasing numbers of juveniles, subadults and
adults. Individuals in populations are usually closely grouped with numerous seedlings and juveniles beneath the
parent palms.
Threats to survival There are no parts of the population of Livistona lanuginosa included in either National Parks or designated
conservation reserves, as the entire area covered by the species is privately owned or leasehold tenured, and given
over to beef cattle grazing. There are a few ex situ populations in botanical gardens, such as the Palmetum and
Anderson Park Botanical Garden, Townsville, Australia, and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden and Montgomery
Botanical Centre, Florida, USA. The primary threat to L. lanuginosa is browsing and trampling by cattle, and
subsequent habitat alteration such as bank erosion and soil compaction. There are no significant water
impoundments upstream of the main population, and water-flow regimes are natural. About half of the individuals
in the studied populations are in a senescent state (Pettit and Dowe 2003) with only limited or no regeneration and
unbalanced recruitment between class sizes. Overall, regeneration is severely restricted by the impact of cattle.
Current Conservation Measures The species is recognized as Vulnerable by the Queensland Government’s Environmental Protection Agency, and it is
therefore legislatively protected (Henderson 2002). In effect, no action regarding conservation of the species has
been implemented despite the population being in decline and under increasing pressure from grazing. However,
with respite from grazing, recovery would be expected in most populations.
Additional Necessary Conservation Actions Additional field work is required to determine the total population coverage, as some areas where it is suspected to
occur are inaccessible and remote. There are legislative provisions within the Nature Conservation Act (Queensland)
to declare some populations as conservation reserves, or possible National Parks, but this action would require a
concerted effort by multiple government departments and the cooperation of land owners and lease holders. An
investigation of genetic diversity across the population is presently being conducted, and this project hopes to
achieve some recognition of the vulnerability of the species.
Scientific Contributor
Dr John Leslie Dowe, Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater research, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.
8
From elsewhere - 2
Source: Website address: http://linearlegume.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/washout-paper-pots.ht
Thanks to Delmar Colquhoun for this clever little article
9
Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc.
P.O. Box 363 Aitkenvale, Qld. 4814
Membership Application or Renewal Form
Membership Year is from 1st April to 31st March
(Initial half yearly membership is available for those joining around October)
Name: _________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________
Email address: _________________________________________
Fee: $_________________
If claiming full time student fee please quote Student No………………….
Additional household members may be registered for a nominal fee of $2.00 per person but they will not receive newsletters or magazines.
Society for Growing Australian Plants Townsville Branch Inc. ABN 92 312 012 800
Membership Fees:
New Ordinary Member $45.00
New Student Member $35.00
Renewal Ordinary $40.00
Renewal Student $30.00
New Member (Half Year from Oct.) $25.00
Additional Household Member $ 2.00
Membership fees as above should be paid to Townsville Branch rather than to Brisbane - the most efficient
method is by direct credit to our bank account, but they may be paid to the treasurer by post to P.O. Box 363,
Aitkenvale, or at meetings.
If paying electronically please quote ’Membership and your name’
Bendigo Bank BSB 633-000 A/C 113462386
The Society for Growing Australian Plants promotes
the conservation of Australian native flora
by encouraging its introduction into gardens.
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