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BUDAWANGIA*

AN E-NEWSLETTER FOR ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE NATIVE PLANTS OF THE NSW SOUTH COAST

Contact: Dr Kevin Mills – kevinmillskma@gmail.com

No. 36 - March 2015

Aims: To connect those interested in the native flora of the NSW South Coast, to share up to date information on the flora of the region and to broaden the

appreciation of the region’s native plants. Editorial

This month sees the three year mark for Budawangia. Over the 36 editions, there have been 203 pages of

information on the plants of the South Coast region. With the encouragement and input from readers, I have

had little trouble in making it to three years. The newsletter will continue into the future, and I hope that it is

still enjoyed by readers. I have learnt a lot in putting the newsletter together and there are still plenty of

plants and plant related matters to explore.

This edition deals with the ancient genus Araucaria, the southern hemisphere conifer. One species, the

Norfolk Island Pine, is ubiquitous along our coast, although no species is indigenous to southern New South

Wales. A new mystery weed is presented along with more on casuarinas, which appeared in the previous

edition. Orchid expert Allan Stephenson makes a contribution about epiphytic orchids, continuing the theme

of epiphytic orchids from two previous newsletters. Les Mitchell from Kangaroo Valley provides some

information about his Bushcare group in the upper Kangaroo River valley. Lastly, there is a piece and

photograph on a colourful slime mould found locally and a photograph of the ripe fruit of Piper hederaceum,

a follow-on from last year‟s photograph of the male flower spike.

The term allelopathy is sometimes brought up in my conversations with plant enthusiasts. The definition of

this term in biology is “the chemical inhibition of one plant (or other organism) by another, due to the

release into the environment of substances acting as germination or growth inhibitors.” The term is

derived from the Greek allēl - one another and patheia - suffering or feeling. The term was first used by an

Austrian biologist in 1937. The phenomenon is not only present in some plants to stop competition from

other species, but also to prevent its own progeny from regenerating near the original plant. The

phenomenon has been reported to occur in Grevillea robusta, and species of Eucalyptus and Casuarina.

I would be pleased to receive appropriate articles, however small, on interesting observations, new

discoveries, plant name changes, etc., up to two A4 pages, including some photographs. Deadline is one

week before the end of the calendar month.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

Kevin Mills, Jamberoo, NSW.

Tel. 02 4236 0620

All photographs ©Kevin Mills 2015, unless otherwise stated.

* Budawangia is a monotypic, endemic genus restricted to the Budawang Range on the western edge of the South

Coast region. The genus was named by Telford in 1992; the species Budawangia gnidioides (Ericaceae) was

previously Rupicola gnidioides.

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Araucaria

The conifer genus Araucaria (Araucariaceae) occurs in the southern hemisphere: in Australia (2 species),

New Caledonia (13 species), New Guinea (2 species), Norfolk Island (1 species) and South America (1

species); there are 19 species in all. Fossil records of this ancient plant genus come from the northern

hemisphere. The trees are mostly dioecious, with male and female cones found on separate trees. The

Norfolk Island Pine A. heterophylla is the most well known of the species, as it is a common planted coastal

tree in many countries. Two species are native to the Australian mainland, Hoop Pine A. cunninghamii and

Bunya Pine A. bidwillii; both of these species are sometimes planted as street trees and in large gardens. The

Monkey Puzzle Tree A. araucana of South America is sometimes planted in large gardens and parks.

The seeds of A. cunninghamii; these are surrounded

by a scale with wings that assist in dispersal.

Branchlets and female cone of A. heterophylla.

Glaucous juvenile foliage of A. cunninghamii.

The prickly foliage of A. bidwillii.

A natural stand of A. heterophylla on Norfolk Island.

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More on epiphytic orchids

Following reports on epiphytic orchids in previous newsletters, Alan Stephenson (Nowra) has written in with

another example of a tree full of these orchids and includes some photographs. “During my orchid ramblings

throughout the Shoalhaven and a few other areas I look for and occasionally encounter orchids where one

would not expect but in one location quite close to Nowra there are three orchids on the one tree and any

watchful person driving from Nowra to or beyond Kangaroo Valley might notice a certain Cedar tree (Toona

ciliata) on private property but very close to the main road (west side). I can forgive some for failure to

notice the orchids on this tree as its location is on one of the many sharp bends and at that point safe driving

is more of a concern than orchid gazing. The three species are Dockrillia linguiformis (Thumbnail or Tongue

Orchid), Dockrillia pugioniformis (Dagger Orchid) and Sarcochilus falcatus (Orange Blossom Orchid) and

the good thing about all three is that given reasonable seasonable conditions, all species will be in flower

during late September and much of October. Further to the west on Bugong Road at the junction of two

creeks, a keen walker will also experience a similar event.”

“The three species this time are Adelopetalum

exiguum (Bulbophyllum exiguum), Oxysepala

shepherdii (Bulbophyllum shepherdii) and

occasionally Plectorrhiza tridentata (Tangle

Orchid) or Sarcochilus olivaceus (Southern

Lawyer Orchid). All species are very common to

this particular rainforest area with the first two

frequently intertwined, either on a rock or tree. To

find three orchid species on one tree is a rare

event but over the years I have noted orchids do

not always follow any defined growth pattern or

habitat preference and that is the best reason to

look at your favourite section of bush a little more

closely as it could yield a surprise.”

Text and Photographs by

Alan Stephenson, Nowra.

Sarcochilus falcatus

Dockrillia pugioniformis

Dockrillia linguiformis

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Upper Kangaroo Valley Landcare Group

“The Upper Kangaroo Valley Landcare Group was formed in late 2004 in order to expand the activities of

the Upper Kangaroo Valley Bushcare Group which had been working for 20 years on revegetating a Council

reserve on the banks of the Kangaroo River opposite the Upper River Hall. The land care group has focused

on controlling Madeira Vine, Small and Broad-leaf Privet and strategic removal of Tradescantia on private

land and public land along Kangaroo River upstream of its junction with Gerringong Creek. Our work has

been assisted by Government grants over the years and most recently by a NSW Environmental Trust Grant

administered by Kangaroo Valley Environment Group, for repairing riparian habitats on three properties in

Upper Kangaroo Valley. The group has working bees once a month usually on a Monday morning.

Control of other weeds such as Lantana,

Blackberry, Japanese Honeysuckle, Moth Vine

and Cape Ivy has also occurred at several sites.

An emerging environmental weed in our area is

Chilean Jasmine (Mandevilla laxa) and its

control will prove difficult. Since 2006 the group

has also been coordinating a feral goat control

program in Kangaroo Valley, with assistance and

funding from NPWS, the former Southern Rivers

CMA and the Shoalhaven Landcare Association.

The program has involved contract shooting on

many properties in Kangaroo Valley with well in

excess of 400 goats shot since the program

commenced.”

Text and photograph by Les Mitchell,

Kangaroo Valley.

Mystery Weed

Another mystery weed for you to consider; this

species has become very common on roadsides and

along railway lines in recent years. The flowers are

bright yellow.

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Piper follow-up

A photograph of Piper hederaceum (Piperaceae)

appeared in a newsletter last year. I should have

mentioned then that the photograph was of a male

flower spike. The photograph at right shows female

inflorescences and the ripe red fruit. The rounded

head of the female inflorescence can be compared

to the pike of the male inflorescence. There are

huge specimens of this vine at Minnamurra

Rainforest, which must be almost as old as the

large trees upon which they climb.

Further information on Casuarinas

Following the article on casuarinas the last edition, two readers have added to the information provided.

Steve Douglas (Bundanoon) writes: “Re Casuarinas, Allocasuarina diminuta ssp. mimica occurs at Penrose,

Bundanoon, Fitzroy Falls and Berrima, and probably elsewhere in the Highlands on Mittagong Formation

geology and upper Hawkesbury Sandstone.”

Garry Daly (North Nowra) notes that “I have observed Allocasuarina torulosa just south of Batemans Bay, a

lot further south than Macquarie Pass. Also records from the Atlas of living Australia show several records

from that area.” This species was not included in the book Native Trees of the NSW South Coast, as we could

not find it between Kiama and Batemans Bay. So, the search is on - can anyone tell me where they have

found this tree in the Shoalhaven?

Slime Mould

Bob (Jamberoo) sent in a photo of an unusual

„fungus‟ found in mid-March at Minnamurra

Rainforest. The species is not a fungus, but a

slime mould called Fuligo septica. It has the

rather unpleasant common name of Dog Vomit

Slime Mould. When mature, the bright yellow

colour changes to a whitish-grey colour,

hardens and produces spores.

Etymology: fuligo - sooty, black; septic - wall.

Photograph by Bob Craven, Jamberoo.