On Eucalypts and two books by Dean Nicolle

Smaller Eucalypts & Taller Eucalypts for Planting in Australia

Eucalyptus is an important genus of the world’s plants. It is significant that Australia is the only continent in the world whose vegetation is dominated by a single genus of plants, namely Eucalyptus. In addition, this particular genus is almost unique to our continent (with just a few species occurring on islands to its north, including New Guinea). Some species grow almost to the tops of our tallest snow-capped mountains, others down to the surrounding seas, and others again, from the edges of rain forest to the depths of our deserts. They are THE outstanding living feature in most natural Australian
landscapes and the key element that impart identity to an Australian scene.

Yet the majority of us don’t know the names (i.e. the botanical identity) of more than a few. The prime reason being that Eucalyptus is a large, diverse and complex genus, with widely scattered species, some growing in as yet seldom visited locations and undoubtedly with a number as yet to be discovered. It has been difficult for botanists to comprehend the whole assembly; and quite a number of species have until recently not had their botanical names determined. Into the bargain, even when named, it hasn’t been easy for an average person to work out what name applies to ‘their particular plant of interest’. And it is a fact that when an object doesn’t have an identity, it is almost impossible to advance your interest and knowledge pertaining to it, apart from what you observe at the time. Even if you are initially strongly motivated, and desperately wanting to further your quest, there is sadly no meaningful mechanism for storing/recalling information so that it relates to an unnamed object, i.e. until it has a name, there is nothing to attach information to. This situation has been an impediment from the beginning of the landscape development of our settlements in this continent. It is a pivotal factor that has detracted from the use, as well as the recognition, acknowledgement and understanding of the value and importance of this unique and inestimable natural asset, ‘our Gum Trees’.

It is thus not surprising, that as a consequence, up until now, eucalypts have sat in both the amateur’s and the professional botanist’s ‘too hard basket’, with only the occasional ‘tackling by taxonomists of a few species,’ or ‘of a segment of this genus’. We have thus had to wait for a very long time for this large group of our Australian plants to be recently taxonomically unravelled as a whole, and for many of the individual species to be named. Eucalypts (our widespread, ‘national tree’) have suffered a great disadvantage as the result of this situation. To a large degree they have been neglected, underestimated and often even ignored; as without a name, it is impossible to assemble, transmit or retain pertinent retrievable information related to a particular species or even to individual trees.

Dean Nicolle has now completely changed this situation for us. It is a joy and a revelation, to at last have to hand, such a lucid and pertinent pair of books on the “Gum Trees” that we grow and also on others that we would want to grow now that we have more information about them, and can find out what their names are. Due to his diligent research, and now with the publication of this beautifully illustrated pair of companion volumes, he has provided us all with a readily accessible means of identifying the gum trees we grow. A facility that we, as members of the Australian public, have needed and
been seeking, ever since we first began to take notice of the trees that are growing around us. With the assistance of these manuals we will now, at long last, be enabled to determine their correct botanical names, and to record and consult data about them.

His information for each species is written in simple English, lucid and to the point. The plant’s botanical name is followed by its common name, (if it has one). Then the origin of these names and what they mean or refer to. Next comes a clear, concise description, covering pertinent points and distinctive features. Then successively: Natural distribution & habitat; Cultivation & uses; and Management, followed by notes on Similar species (these are most helpful in making a diagnosis). This text is accompanied by clear, informative photographs that illustrate the pertinent features that immediately help to
identify the plant of interest; a chart of the plant’s (cultivation) Preferences and a map of its natural distribution.

The major additional benefit from this publication is the fact that once a plant has a botanical name, information about that plant such as special attributes, capabilities and potential under a variety of conditions, will accumulate. This species information will be of help in future choices made for planting in specific situations.

This is a treatise that was well worth waiting for and will prove to be the tool to familiarise us all with a most interesting selection of our nationally dominant genus of plants.

So, all you Wildflower People, the field is now open to find out what you’d like to grow that fits your particular situation. Go to it. Dean Nicolle has opened the door for us to embrace and begin to understand what is probably our most significant living National Asset.

-Marion Blackwell, convenor of the Society Publications Committee

Plants in Science fiction and Fantasy

Plants are everywhere, always in the background, never really having much focus drawn on them. But often creating the sense of place and atmosphere of the area they are in. An example of this is when we in Australia see eucalyptus, we instantly think of our Australian outback. Or when we see boreal forests and Cacti. We are reminded of where they are.

This is true when we think of plants in works of fiction and at that especially in science fiction where these places are limited only by the individuals imagination. Usually when we think about plant life on another world we tend to resort to analogues within our own. Many early science fiction works, when written imagined lush tropical forests filled with plants that had giant man-eating flora.

A common theme for plants in science fiction is just that, an antagonistic force either actively hostile to human life as in the Day of the Triffids, (1951) or as parasitic vegetation. Other themes of plant life in sci-fi include human form flora, an example of this is the plant Groot from Marvels Guardians of the Galaxy series of comics. Opposite to the first theme, some fictional plant species are intelligent and benevolent towards the human race. We encounter this in Clifford D simaks, All Flesh is Grass (1965) when a planet wide intelligent plant proclaims the brotherhood of all species (albeit ruthlessly enforced). Intelligent plant life is no stranger to science fiction with Kevin J Andersons Saga of Seven Suns Verdani trees.

In other works of fiction plants are not active things but instead serve to create a unique background from which the main story takes place in. Of course some of these are dangerous carnivorous plants. But others are similar to the Tesla tree’s from Dan Simmons Hyperion cantos series (1989) which store electricity and release it to scorch nearby competitors. Another is the Red weed from H.G Wells War of the Worlds (1897) which invades earth along with the alien tripods. Or James Camerons Avatar (2009) where upon the alien planet, almost every flora has bioluminescent  foliage.

Plant life on earth is often what we use to try and imagine what plant life in these science fiction and fantasy stories might look and behave like. Of course with a little bit of imagination thrown into the mix. This imagination is not limited to recent times, the concept of fictional flora is rooted in antiquity being a subject of imaginative fascination for many people at the start of fictional writing and even today.

In conclusion Plant life in science fiction and Fantasy writing can be just as important as the aliens and the spaceships that are far more popularised.

 

Author Mathew Woods. Murdoch branch.

 

References:

http://visual.ly/garden-fantasy-flora-80-plants-fiction

https://bigpictureeducation.com/plants-rooted-science-fiction

http://www.tor.com/2011/03/14/talking-trees-and-killer-spores-the-flora-of-science-fiction-and-fantasy/

http://www.usrbin.ca/damon/plants.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Intelligent-Plants-in-Science-Fiction&id=813730

March Management Committee Update

The most recent monthly update from the Management Committee is now also available on our website, access exclusively for Members only. Log in to the Members area and then the tab ‘Management Committee Updates.’ If you have any difficulties logging in to the system, please email our volunteer administrator at nmcl@westnet.com.au – we can reset your password, give you a simpler password, or guide you through the log-in procedure.

Join us!

You can join in our activities and support the work of the Wildflower Society by becoming a member – there are many reasons why you should join, and so many events on offer!  Take a look at the benefits of membership…

Read more…

Australian Identity is Hidden in the Bush

Dr Eddy Wajon introduces native flora to local MP.

While walking through the Roe 8 reserve, recently, with a Member of Parliament (MP), we all agreed that knowing about the Australian Bush is a key element in building Australia’s national identity.

‘The Bush’ is not an easy thing to get to know, though, and many Australians are not only unwilling to learn more about it but are truly afraid of it. We sense the bush as if “it might have reached a long black arm and gripped us” – to put it in the words of DH Lawrence.

Nuytsia floribunda

 When the first European settlement of Western Australia began in 1827, for the most part, the settlers showed little interest in the bush that surrounded them. Instead, homesick Europeans started immediately to clear away the local vegetation. They tried to reinstate the things the way there were back on old continent. As a result new colonies in Western Australia nearly starved through failing to understand the local soils and landscapes and trying to farm using British methods. English-style gardens and European culture still dominated the hearts and minds of early settlers. The striking Nuytsia floribunda (WA Christmas Tree) was named as late as 200 years after Pieter Nuyts sailed around the south coast of WA en route to Batavia in the Dutch East Indies (1627).

Presently, although there are only few little islands of remnant bushland left in WA, the land clearing goes on. One of the greatest Nuytsias found on Swan Coastal Plain is being felled for an extension of another Highway – it does feel like our present government still has a 19th-century mindset.

Image of Great Nuytsia that has been already cleared for Roe 8.

I do hope that the Aussie nation will open its eyes to that rich source of stories, knowledge and identity found in the local bush before we turn into a mindless mass of consumers.

Author @PWaryszak

 

 

 

 

WA Wildflowers in Northern Germany?

These lovely photos are from Wildflower Society member Gerald Lorenz who joined the Society four years ago when he was visiting Perth. With his renewal he sent us a beautiful calendar with his photos – all taken in Germany! He says ‘I have lost my heart to your animals, flowers and nature that lives in Australia – especially in WA. Since then I’m growing some of your plants here. Now my collection counts about 50 different species of trees, bushes and flowers.’ Thank you Lorenz for your beautiful photos – you are an inspiration to us!

Connecting with Nature in the City (Letter from Dawn)

Dear WSWA members,

There’s something special about watching the sun rise from Kings Park… when the surface of the river is like glass, the sky has a rosy tinge, and there’s a bit of chill in the air. The city emerges from the gloom and the trees along Fraser Avenue turn gold. Some parrots erupt from the canopy in a sudden assault of sound, and then the mournful call of a raven and some warbling magpies. And the flowers… the flowers in spring! All that colour and variety and beauty that words just can’t convey…

Kings Park has to be my favourite green space in Perth.  But you probably have your own favourite – it might be a park, or some remnant bushland, even a backyard. These spaces will also be special to you for very individual reasons. It is something I’ve been exploring for my PhD as well as how important intangible things (like beauty or solitude or relaxation) are to people’s experiences of urban green space. I’m interested because I want to know if green spaces in a city like Perth are enough for users to feel connected with nature.

The American ecologist, Robert M. Pyle came up with the rather gloomy term, ‘extinction of experience’ which he used to describe an ever-diminishing connection between humans and common species of plants and animals in an everyday environment, especially in the developed world. He warned that “those who know and recognise less, care less, and therefore act less, leading to still more losses”.[1]  So if people in cities can connect with nature in urban green spaces that would probably be a good thing!

If you’d like to hear more about connecting with nature in the city, I’ll be talking about my PhD research at the Murdoch branch on 2 March 2017 so please come along. You can also help me with my research! I’m collecting information at the moment in an online survey to see how Perth residents use and experience urban green space. It only takes about 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed here: http://tinyurl.com/GREENspacePerthSurvey Please share this link with your Perth friends too as every little bit of information helps.

Thanks and hope to see you soon!

Dawn Dickinson

(dawn.dickinson@research.uwa.edu.au)

Reference:
[1] Pyle, R. M. (2003). “Nature matrix: reconnecting people and nature.” Oryx 37:209.

Our beautiful Helena and Aurora Range

See the new cinema ad raising awareness of the beautiful Helena and Aurora Range:

Don’t mine the Helena and Aurora Range in Western Australia’s heartland – only 1% of WA’s iron ore production, but home to plants that live nowhere else.

Supported by the Wildflower Society of Western Australia.

More information:  HelenaAuroraRange.com.au

ANPSA Conference 2018 – Hobart

The Australian Native Plants Society (ANSPA) presents a national conference every two years, and in January 2018 it will be in Hobart – your chance to see those beautiful alpine meadows! We’ve just received the Conference Programme – you can view it here.

AND… Western Australia will host the following conference, in October 2019 – we invite all members to help with the planning for this exciting event, which we hope to hold in a country location. There are big jobs and small jobs, and the more who are involved, the better Western Australia will be represented.