Growing endemic plants for Goulburn Wetlands
For many years, Jen Ashwell and Tim Hayes have supported the planting of endemic species in the Goulburn area. Over the last 10 years, Jen has been growing endemic plants for the Goulburn Wetlands.
Spotlight on tiny, endangered, rarely seen orchid, thanks to Wendy Grimm
Genoplesium baueri R.Br., an endangered terrestrial orchid species endemic to the Sydney Basin …Each summer from late December to May-June, Wendy Grimm, a member of the North Shore group…
Nature Conservation Council (NCC) – Margery Street, representative
APS NSW is a member of the Nature Conservation Council and Margery is our representative. Here is her update from the 2020 Annual Conference.
Conservation Officer’s report – Dan Clarke
I volunteered to be the primary editor to expand the plant profile database on the APS NSW website. These profiles are the most visited pages on our website! This year, various authors, primarily Jeff Howes, Heather Miles and Rhonda Daniels drafted approximately 200 native plant profiles, with a focus on how to grow the plants in the garden…
A mass attraction – Actinotus forsythii (pink flannel flower)
A year after devastating fires that razed the bush, Pink flannel flowers, Actinotus forsythii, have been found growing en masse, in a flora bonanza attracting much interest. They are not rare, but the mass flowering is triggered by a smoke-derived chemical.
Actinotus forsythii – up close with the pink flannel flower
Lisa captured these upclose images of the pink flannel flowers in the Blue Mountains in January 2021.
Friends of Grasslands 2021 Grassy Ecosystem Grants
Friends of Grasslands (FoG) is offering a small number of grants of up to $1500 each in 2021 to support projects that promote understanding, conservation and management of native grassy ecosystems. Any individual or organisation can apply by 30 April 2021.
Australian Flora Foundation newsletter January 2021
The Australian Flora Foundation newsletter Research Matters, No. 33, January 2021 is now available. In 2021, the foundation celebrates its 40th year of operations since 1981, funding scientific research into the biology and cultivation of the Australian flora.
River-flat eucalypt forest on coastal floodplains – threatened ecological community
‘River-flat eucalypt forest on coastal floodplains of southern New South Wales and eastern Victoria’ has been listed as a threatened ecological communities under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This forest is habitat for many threatened and fire-affected species, including Platypus, Swift Parrot, Greater Glider, Koala and the Camden White Gum.
City and country planting trees together
Graham Fry, the President of East Hills Group is also a member of the Oatley Flora and Fauna (OFF) group. At their February 2020 monthly meeting the guest speaker was Vince Hefferman. Vince owns a sheep property in the Gunning area in the southern tablelands. Some years ago he realised that the way the property was managed was not sustainable and that there had to be a better way.
Using Early Explorers and Landscape Descriptions to Guide Restoration Goals
Andrew and his wife Jennifer have regenerated their two properties at Dubbo and Narromine. When Andrew and Jennifer purchased their properties, they were degraded due to livestock grazing and feral animals.
A walk in Wategora Reserve at South Granville with Acacia pubescens and more
In August 2020, APS Parra Hills members and visitors walked the Duck River track through Wategora Reserve at South Granville. There were several stands of very healthy plants of Acacia pubescens (Downy Wattle), a plant which is listed as vulnerable but which flourishes in the reserve, all flowering beautifully.
A weekend of tree planting for regenerative farming
Ralph Cartwright reports on a weekend of 30 volunteers planting 1,800 native trees and shrubs to support regenerative farming on a sheep property north of Canberra.
In search of Acacia gordonii
Our walk was to inspect the endangered species, Acacia gordonii. This little acacia, usually about 1 metre high, has single, very bright gold flower heads on long stalks. We were hoping that other species would be starting to flower this early in native plant spring. We were certainly not disappointed.
YouTube: Dr Peter Weston on the origins and evolution of Gondwanan flora
Dr Weston has done a lot of research on the origins and evolution of Gondwanan flora. The term Gondwanaland refers to the larger supercontinent which includes Antarctica, Australia, Africa, Arabia, South America, NZ and the Indian sub-continent.
Understanding native plant distributions – a major data project
APS members should know where native plants are! Tony Maxwell introduces a major project he is working on to assemble data on the occurrences of species from reputable and publicly available sources.
Australian Flora Foundation newsletter July 2020
The Australian Flora Foundation newsletter Research Matters, No. 32, July 2020 is now available.
Ferns galore by Lesley Waite
These photos were taken by Lesley on a recent Fern Study Group walk from Evans Lookout to Neate’s Glen via the Grand Canyon (Grose Valley).
Menai Wildflower Group presents Dr Russell Barrett with Flora of the Kimberley Part 2
Flora of the Kimberly with Dr Russell Barrett, presenting at Menai Wildflower Group meeting. See also Part 1
Menai Wildflower Group Presents Dr Russell Barrett with Flora of the Kimberly Part 1
Flora of the Kimberly with Dr Russell Barrett, presenting at Menai Wildflower Group meeting. See also Part 2
WA Plant Table Sept 2019 Presenter Dr Greg Keighery
Zoom presentation with Dr Greg Keighery, identification WA plants
Southwest WA – Blooming Biodiversity, with Dr Greg Keighery
Here is a presentation by Dr Greg Keighery on the biodiversity of plants in South west Western Australia
Growing for Glossies in the Mist
Volunteers from Menai Group have grown over 7,000 casuarina seedlings to support the Glossies in the Mist project, and more are on the way.
YouTube – Dr Brett Summerell on Banks and Solander and bushfire recovery
After our recent AGM, Dr Brett Summerell, Director Research and Chief Botanist at the Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands, gave a talk by Zoom and discussed the botanical work of Banks and Solander in 1770, the herbarium collection they created and its scientific importance, and the impact of the bushfires on Australia’s unique plant life.
Latest Australian Flora Foundation newsletter out now
The latest newsletter from the Australian Flora Foundation is now available here. The foundation is a charity fostering scientific research into the biology and cultivation of the Australian flora.
Research Matters, No. 31, January 2020 announces projects being funded by the foundation and prizes awarded:
Supporting research projects at the Australian Flora Foundation
This year the Australian Flora Foundation approved grants for the following projects – all involving restoration of the much-degraded Australian environment.
Australian Flora Foundation newsletter – Research Matters, July 2019
The latest newsletter from the Australian Flora Foundation is now available here. The foundation is a charity fostering scientific research into the biology and cultivation of the Australian flora.
Polblue, a fragile wilderness
This article was contributed by Andrew Pengelly of the Hunter Valley Group and appeared in their newsletter, Gumleaves.
Planting Australian natives: are we bringing the bush to our backyards or our backyards to the bush?
This article by Dr Matt Pye* recently appeared in the Australian Flora Foundation’s January 2019 Research Matters and is reproduced with permission.
Keeping Tuggerah Lakes pristine, by Nick Carson
Central Coast Group’s speaker in May was Nick Carson, an Environmental Education Officer at Central Coast Council where he educates the community about the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary. Nick spoke passionately about the importance of the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary and catchment area. This article was first published in the May issue of the Central Coast Australian Plants Society NSW newsletter.
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow, champion of Top End native plants
Mark Henley (Newcastle Group) has shared the great work being done by Top End birdwatcher and natural history and cultural guide, Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow.