Past Events › Armadale branch

The Roleybushcare Flora Database includes plants found in Roleystone reserves and surrounding areas. Lee Hassan’s talk will cover some of the history of the database and some of the challenges faced with plant identification and photography.

Belinda will give an overview of the Kings Park Science orchid conservation program and the work that goes into ensuring translocation success and the importance of ex situ conservation with a focus on saving Bussell’s Spider Orchid (Caladenia busselliana) from the brink of extinction.

Wireless Hill reserve (Bush Forever site BF336) has survived in suburbia, but like most bushland in developed urban areas, it has suffered from an infestation of many species of weeds. Hear from Dr Margaret Matthews about how the Friends of Wireless Hill and local residents saw the area as worth saving and have worked in conjunction with the City of Melville to ‘wage war on the weeds’.

There are about 170 species of Hakea, with 96 species restricted to southwestern Australia and they are renowned for having the toughest and spiniest leaves, and the woodiest fruits, in the world! Many of the bird-pollinated species contain cyanide in their flowers (but not in their nectar) that is believed to deter cockatoos and emus from eating them.

Nancy Scade (Australian Native Nursery) will be describing the many local native grasses and their role in our wonderful bushland.