The Victorian Natuzadist Volume 109 (1) 19 DY =o Published by The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria since 1884 ; USEUM OF VICTORIA i FNCV Calendar of Activities March Sun. | General Group Excursion — Wattle Park Nature Ramble. Leader: Ian Faithfull, Contact Dorothy Mahler, 850 9379 or 435 8408. Tues. 3 Fauna Survey Group Meeting — Forestry and its Effects on Wildlife: Richard Loyn. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Wed. 4 Geology Group Meeting — Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Contact Graeme Love, 282 5187 (B.H.) Fri. 6 - Mon. 9 Victorian Field Naturalists Clubs Association Annual Camp at The Basin. Please note this activity will take the place of the March General Meeting and there will be no meeting on March 16 as previously advised. Sat. 7- Mon. 9 Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Wilsons Promontory (post-fire ecology study). Contact Anne Casey, 380 8290. Thurs. 12 Botany Group Meeting — Hawaii: Malcolm Calder. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Sat. 14 Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Leadbeaters Possum Survey. Contact Ray Gibson, 874 4408. Wed. 18 Microscopy Group Meeting — Plant Sections: an explanation of what we see. Astronomer’s Residence 8 p.m. Sat. 28 Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Leadbeaters Possum Survey. Contact Ray Gibson, 874 4408. Sat. 28 Botany Group Excursion — Native Berries at Upper Thomson River. Contact Joan Harry, 850 1347. April Wed. 1 Geology Group Meeting. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Contact Graeme Love, 282 5187 (B.H.). Sun. 5 General Group Excursion — Geology and Shell Studies at Black Rock Coastal Area. Leader: Dan McInnes. Contact Dorothy Mahler, 850 9379 or 435 8408. Tues. 7 Fauna Survey Group Meeting — Insect/Plant Interactions: John Reid. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Thurs. 9 Botany Group Meeting — Kangaroo Island: Hilary Weatherhead and Ilma Dunn. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Sat. 11 Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Leadbeaters Possum Survey. Contact Ray Gibson, 874 4408. Mon, 13 General Meeting - Annual General Meeting. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Wed. 15 Microscopy Group Meeting — Simple Methods of making Opaque Mounts for insects, forams or botanical specimens. Astronomer’s Residence 8 p.m. Fri. 17 - Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Jilpanger Scrub Survey. Contact Tues. 21 Laurie Conole, 481 4926. Sat. 25 Botany Group Excursion — ‘Seawinds’, bone seed pulling and Greens Bush. Contact Joan Harry, 850 1347. ‘ The Victorian Naturalist Volume 109 (1) 1992 February Editor: Robyn Watson Assistant Editors: Ed and Pat Grey Index to Volume 107, 1990 in the centre of this issue Notice Annual General Meeting, FNCV .........::scscssessseeeetersesseeenereees 4 Books Book review: Australian Waterbirds - A Field Guide, author R. Kingsford, reviewer E. Grey v.scsscscsssesrsseeeerecn cents teeatestet retin 5 Library reOPening .........ssceeseesecsecesseeseceserereeneeserseeneeneenceneeeneneress 5 Letters Do they predate or not? from I. Endersby ee ee errs 6 Weeds along the Two Bays walking track, Arthurs Seat, from SS. RENMICK csecccsncsecvsesseesssecssecsersrssenceesescnenenssenensseseseacssaneentensesrses 6 Research Report The foraminiferal fauna of Mallacoota Inlet, East Gippsland, Victoria, by K.N. Bell and S.R. Drury scoseesserrerreereerteeeiens ¥ Contributions French Island and its orchids, speaker Gary Backhouse, reporters N. Schleiger and A. FATHWOPEW spicnc-cessesicexcsasnerataeoeatss 16 Notes from the National Herbarium of Victoria No. 10. The names of plants - in pursuit of the correct name, by STATA eer cs ots hos ocean cortatacegateneerseeneenrettera cabeereatar ss 77 23 Naturalist Notes Third Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri) Search, b P. RODErtSON csvsssscsresesscssssesnesseseesoeneenssesenvensnurenensnenenseesers eye AS: Conservation Conservation ISsues.......ssssssssessssssessarseentessaseenecennecencnnnenssensnets 26 Issues Reports Annual report of the Microscopical Group, 1990 ....-..sssesss- DH Annual report of the Botany Group, ITT ee ape eee eres 28 Obituary Mr Clifford Nance .s.cssssssesssecrssesecceossestoseesnensnnanessscanennnsensecrente 29 Cover photo: Large Duck Orchid, Caleana major, see the article on the orchids of French Island, p.16 Notice Notice of the Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria will be held at the National Herbarium, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra at 8 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 1992. Agenda Hh. ps DN aid Confirmation of the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting held on 13 May 1991. Receipt and adoption of Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 1991. Receipt and adoption of Financial Statements and associated reports. Election of Members of Council. Election of Office Bearers. Appointment of Auditors (remuneration to be determined by Council). Any other business of which proper notice has been given in accordance with the Articles of Association. President’s Address — “Kakadu plus other interests”. Election of Councillors and Office Bearers All members of Council and Office Bearers retire annually but are eligible for re- election. Nominations by two financial members of the Club are required for the following positions: Council President Vice-President Ten other members Office Bearers Secretary Treasurer Editor Activities Co-ordinator Librarian Subscriptions Secretary Excursion Secretary Conservation Co-ordinator Publicity Officer Sales Officer (Books) Sales Officer (Victorian Naturalist) This is your Club, and all members are urged to ensure its on-going viability by filling all the above positions with persons willing and able to contribute to activities and functions. Arrange a nomination for yourself or encourage some other appropriate member to be nominated. Nominations should be in the hands of the Secretary before the Annual General Meeting. Victorian Nat. Book Review Australian Waterbirds — A field guide by Richard Kingsford Publishers: Kangaroo Press Pty. Ltd. (1991). 90 colour plates, 128 pages, r.r.p. $14.95 (soft cover). This is a well produced guide to 90 species of Australian fresh-water birds. It 'concentrates on birds associated with inland waters and does not pretend to cover all species associated with fresh- water environments. For example the | Reed Warbler and Swamp Harrier are omitted. Very good photographs are used to illustrate each bird in a natural setting. While no note is made of the sex shown, it is presumably male as the text details female differences. Keys around the photographs show the depth of water associated with each species as well as the food eaten. Silhouettes are used to good effect for both broad identification and each individual species. Size is shown by comparison with a human hand or body. The information is shown in a very visual way and thus easily picked out. This small field guide is visually attrac- tive and would provide the naturalist, beginning a study of water birds, with an easy-to-use introduction. Ed. Grey Library Reopening The good news for 1992 is that the Club’s library has moved into new premises, and is now operating again. It is located in a small building behind the Astronomer’s Residence (next door to Governor La Trobe’s Cottage). The library will be open, initially, before the monthly General Meeting, from 7.15-7.55 p.m. It is hoped that it will be open for Group Meetings in the near future, and also at times during the day, depending on demand and the availability of people to be on duty. If you are interested in helping with the library in any way I would be pleased to hear from you. You may phone the FNCV office on (03) 650 8661 or contact me direct on (054) 28 4097. During the long period that the library has been in store we have continued to receive numerous periodicals, which are now available 1o members. The acquisi- Vol. 109 (1) 1992 tion of books has been necessarily curtailed, but did not entirely cease. The following are titles which have been added to stock recently. Buchanan, R. A. (1989). ‘Bush Regeneration’. (NSW TAFE Student Learning Publications.) ‘Green Pages 1991-92’. Directory of Environment Groups. (ACF: 1991.) Lines, W. J. (1991). “Taming the Great South Land’. (Allen & Unwin.) Moulds, M. S. (1990). ‘Australian Cicadas’. (NSWUP.) Books and periodicals may be borrowed for two months. If you wish to keep books for another two months it would greatly assist the library staff if you would renew your loan. Sheila Houghton Hon. Librarian Letters Do they predate or not? Encouraged by your editorial in the February 1990 issue seeking a consistent style for the journal, I wish to lodge a strong protest and warning about the invidious misuse of the verb “to predate” and its participle “predating”. As every well-read naturalist knows, predate is most often used in archaeology and has the sense of antecedence... “recently discovered artifacts demonstrate that the presence of the Offor tribe predates that of the Watson clan...” Similar legitimate uses are to be found in the literature of palaeontology and some other branches of geology. How, then, can ecologists and others of that ilk speak of animals predating upon other creatures? Do they mean that some of the animals arrived earlier, but there has been a nasty mix-up of preposition in the sentence? Unfortunately the answer is that they have wrongly derived their new word from “predacious” or “predatory”. Predators prey upon their quarry; they do not predate upon it. Enough of this nonsense; let us hear the expression no more!! The ultimate fantasy comes in the statement that phytophagous insects predate on leaves and flower buds. (This is a true example slightly altered to disguise the author.) Herbivores graze ... in a biological context predatory implies carnivory. If ecologists want to use the word “predate”, let them do it only in terms of succession. Let us remind them that carnivores prey upon other animals and that plant-eaters have no cause to become raptorial. I am bolstered in my argument by the Shorter Oxford Dictionary whose authors have got the definitions right for all of these terms. lan Endersby Montmorency Weeds along the Two Bays walking track, Arthurs Seat This year, with an excellent voluntary co-ordinator in Stuart Weir (059 863 1644), the flora and fauna-threatening weeds are once again being systematically tackled on the Arthurs Seat State Park. The main weeds are the large bushes of Boneseed (South African Chrysan- themoides monilifera), Sollya (Sollya heterophylla) from Western Australia and the Gippsland Pittosporum undulatum. The wildflowers of the Arthurs Seat (Dromana) section of the Two Bays track and surrounds should increase as the present, and hopefully more, voluntary groups return each April to check and hand-pull the young seedling weed regrowth. Other means of eradication are still at the experimental stage. They are expensive and impossible to implement due to lack of Department of Conservation and Environment staff numbers. Stuart Weir and the Park rangers wish to thank all the groups who participated in 1991. These included several Walking Clubs, Conservation and Community Ser- vices and other groups from Melbourne and the Peninsula. They look forward to other volunteer groups joining, particularly younger and senior school groups, when work for a weed-free Arthurs Seat State Park recommences in March-April 1992 after rains. Please contact Stuart if you would like to participate. Stefanie Rennick East Bentleigh Victorian Nat. Research Report The Foraminiferal Fauna of Mallacoota Inlet, East Gippsland, Victoria. K.N. Bell* and S. R. Drury** Introduction Along the coastline of East Gippsland there are several estuaries — Sydenham, Tamboon, Wingan and Mallacoota Inlets. These inlets formed by the drowning of the seaward valleys of river systems during the increase in sea level which reached its maximum about 6000 years before the present, i.e. they are of mid-Holocene age (Bird 1973). Later, offshore barrier islands and sand spits extended across the mouth of the various inlets restricting the marine influence to a greater or lesser extent. Marine shells from 400-450 mm and 700- 900 mm below the surface at Howe’s Flat, east of Mallacoota, have been C-14 dated at 3500 yr B.P. and 3780 yr B-P. respectively (Gill 1971). This report deals with the foraminiferal fauna found living in Mallacoota Inlet, the largest of these bar-built estuaries. Mallacoota Inlet is situated at the mouth of the Genoa River (Fig.1). It 1s bounded seawards by an extensive beach and dune complex which allows only very restricted water exchange with the Tasman Sea. The Inlet can be divided into two main basins - Top Lake and Bottom Lake, with the latter being further divided by the shallow and extensive Goodwin Sands, which are exposed at low tide, into two separate parts, the Northern and Southern Basins. Top and Bottom Lakes are joined by a narrow but deep strait known locally as the ‘Narrows’. Because the Inlet is surrounded by National Park (except for the three small farming areas) and only two small villages, Genoa and Mallacoota, occur within the catchment of the systems there is little, if any, pollution of the waters. * Honorary Associate, Museum of Victoria, Swanston St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. ** 22 Trease St., Leongatha, Victoria, 3956. Vol. 109 (1) 1992 Previous work on the marine fauna has been seemingly restricted to miscellaneous collections over many years with no definite surveys carried out. Reinson (1977) has studied the hydrology and sedimentation within the Inlet, and the following summary of the environment is based upon his work, The tidal range in the Inlet is small, varying from about 0.7m near the entrance to almost negligible in the central and upper reaches. The water depth varies greatly; the shallowest parts are the seaward end and about the Goodwin Sands; the Northern and Southern Basins are between 1.5 and 6m deep as is Top Lake. The ‘Narrows’ is a deep, narrow channel with an irregular bottom profile and ranges from 6 to more than 10m deep, as is the river channel upstream from Top Lake, where the deepest water is to be found (Cape Horn, 28 m). The salinities of the waters depend upon the interplay between the inflowing freshwater and the marine tidal flow. Under normal conditions the salinity is more or less well stratified, with the fresh- water forming a surface lens extending into the South Basin to about the Goodwin Sands; along the bottom of the Inlet the saltier marine waters form a wedge and extend up and into Top Lake. At intermediate depths there are more or less regular salinity changes due to the mixing of the two water masses, so giving rise to a stratification of salinity levels. Except in the extreme northern section of Top Lake the bottom water in normal times is of a salinity greater than about 26 ppt (normal seawater 35 parts per thousand). During times of great fresh- water input the saltwater wedge is limited in its northern extent and Top Lake may become totally fresh. Due to the irregular Research Report LAKE TOP Fig. 1. Mallacoota Inlet, showing sample sites. bottom topography, and the circulation pattern of the water within the Inlet, saltwater can remain undisturbed in the deeper parts of the ‘Narrows’ and Southern Basin for several months. Water temperatures are also stratified in line with the salinity. Reinson (1977) does not give actual bottom temperatures (of most concern with studies on fora- minifers) but from his figures the Southern Basin bottom temperature is slightly less than 18°C and Top Lake less than 16°C in summer, with winter temperatures about 4°C lower. The sediment distribution in the Inlet is related to the water circulation pattern - sandy sediments (southern seaward end and at the freshwater/marine interface in Top Lake) are found where the water currents are greatest, and muddy sedi- ments in the basins and river channel as the currents are weak at depth. As the deeper water circulation is restricted in the Inlet due to the bottom topography, the bottom waters are Stagnant and partly 8 anoxic, and the surface sediments are characterized by high organic matter content, hydrogen sulphide odour and a blackish colour. Methods Samples were collected using a small hand-operated grab which collected about one litre of sediment, on 30 April and 1-3 May 1987. This was immediately mixed with 70% alcohol as a preservative. The samples studied vary from a black, smelly mud (samples 3-10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21), a sandy mud (samples 2, 11, 19, 27), gravelly mud (samples 14, 15) to a sand and gravelly mud (samples 1, 18, 22-26). For study a sample (10 g) of the sediment from each site was washed several times to remove the larger fragments (gravel, weed, molluscs) and fine silt, and then placed in rose Bengal solution for four hours; this stains the protoplasm and so indicates live collected specimens. The samples were then re-washed, air-dried and the residue concentrated using carbon tetrachloride, Victorian Nat. | | | | _ Research Report In samples in which live foraminifers were uncommon, further 10g sub-samples were processed until about 300 specimens were recovered. Living foraminiferal fauna The living foraminiferal fauna consisted of 34 species placed in 21 genera; Textu- . lariidae (agglutinate forms) comprised 16 | spp (10 genera), Milioliidae (calcareous imperforate forms) 5 spp (4 genera) and the Rotaliidae (perforate calcareous forms) 13 spp (7 genera). The relative percentage abundance of these three main groups of foraminifers in each sample has been plotted in Fig. 2. Inspection shows that Bottom Lake samples can be divided | into two suites - North Basin with high textulariid and very low milioliid and rotaliid values, and South Basin with low textulariid and variable milioliid and rota- liid values, these are the characteristics of a hypo-saline lagoon and a normal marine lagoon respectively (Murray 1973). Living specimens were infrequent to rare, averaging about 30 living specimens/ 10g of sediment; this contrasts with the northern section of Western Port with 300-500/10 g and Swan Bay 100/10 g (Bell unpublished data). This is most likely 27 ees T Fig. 2. Relative percentage abundance plot of the Milioliid: Rotaliid: Textulariid values. Key to symbols: O - North Basin, [1] - South Basin, A — Top Lake. Vol. 109 (1) 1992 due to the partly anoxic nature of the sediments. Table 1 shows the number of species restricted to or common to the three sedimentary basins at Mallacoota Inlet. Top Lake has 5 spp (all agglutinate) restricted to its waters out ofa fauna of 13 spp; Northern Basin, one calcareous species out of a fauna of 7 spp; and Southern Basin 18 spp restricted out of 28 spp. Table 1. Number of species restricted to, or common to, the various sedi- mentary basins at Mallacoota Inlet. Top | Bottom Lake caer S | T/S | N/S |N/S/T Agglutinate Calcareous 1 ; [Teal | ee ESE Two simple statistical calculations, on the diversity coefficient between the samples ahd on the constancy of the species, can enable us to find whether there is a zonation of fauna within the Inlet and, if so, which species are characteristic of those zones. (a) Diversity Coefficient Comparisons and relationships between various samples can be made quantita- tively using the Jaccard coefficient of association. This is a measure of the similarity between any two samples and is calculated from A = C/N1 + N2 - C) where C is the number of species in common between the two samples being compared, and N1 and N2 are the number of species in each of the two samples. The two samples with the greatest association coefficient are combined and the similarity values again calculated for all pairs of samples. Proceeding thus until all the samples are combined, a cluster diagram or dendrogram can be formed showing the degree of closeness between 9 Research Report the various samples (Fig. 3). This shows that for Mallacoota Inlet there are two main associations - Group A comprising samples from Top Lake, Northern Basin and the edge of the Goodwin Sands, and Group B - those samples from the Southern Basin of Bottom Lake. (Samples 10, 21 and 22 were omitted because very few live specimens could be found, and other samples not shown in the dendro- gram had no live foraminifers.) (b) Species constancy The two groups of sample sites can be distinguished by their faunas. We can do this by using the constancy (or presence of species) coefficient C = 100p/N where p is the number of samples containing the species concerned, and N is the total number of samples in each of Groups A and B. According to this coefficient there are three specific categories of the value of C (Sanchez Ariza 1983): (i) constant species, present in more than 50% of the samples; (ii) accessory species, present in 25-50% of the samples; (iii) accidental species, present in less than 25% of the samples. The calculated values for each of the species for either Group A or B are given in Table 2. These figures show that two species Eggerella subconica and Ammonia aoteanus are widespread throughout the Inlet. Also we see that Group A can be characterized by the species Miliammina fusca, Reophax barwonensis and Elphi- dium depressulum with accessory species Ammobaculites barwonensis and A. exi- guus, and that Group B is characterized by Quinqueloculina seminula, Q. poeyana, E. advenum, Brizalina pseudoplicata and B. compacta with accessory species R. nana, Haplophragmoides pusillus, Textularia porrecta, E. gunteri corioensis and Cyclogyra planorbis. Dead foraminiferal fauna A large and diverse dead fauna was found in the southern part of Bottom Lake between Stingray Point and Teatree Point. This dead fauna comprises over 100 species, including some pelagic species, all of which are characteristic of open marine well-oxygenated waters. The samples from this area (1, 2, 22, 25, 26) had a small live fauna of 27 spp (of which only 7 were common, the remainder rare or single 20 re < 30 a 540 50 60 8 27121817 414 GROUP A 1 2262519 22 GROUP B Fig. 3. Cluster dendrogram showing the similarity coefficients between samples. Unlisted samples had too few specimens to use. 10 Victorian Nat. _ Research Report 11 = =F So t+] | 0 + oe We} + als = o (Samples 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 23, 24 contained no live foraminifers. Table 2. Foraminiferal species distribution and species constancy values. Quinqueloculina poeyana Brizalina pseudoplicata Haplophragmoides pusillu. E. gunteri corioense Hippocrepina sp. Miliammina fusca Ammodiscus mestayeri Egerella subconica Leptohalysis sp. Reophax barwonensis Ammoscalaria sp. Textularia porrecta Trochammina sorosa T. inflata Martinoteilla sp. Q. seminula Spiroloculina aequa M. australis C. planorbis Bulimina gibba B. compacta Rosalina australis Ammonia aoteanus Elphidium advenum E. depressulum E. crispum E. argenteum E. simplex E. poeyanum Nonionella auris No. spp/sample Vol. 109 (1) 1992 Species/Sample | Research Report specimens only) characteristic of slightly lower salinity waters. This large dead fauna is indicative of a time when the entrance was much more extensive and water flow greater than the present. This dead fauna has not yet been studied fully. Notes on selected species No full documentation or description of the various species is given here as most are well known brackish or normal marine shallow-water foraminifers. However some species are first records for Victorian waters or are worth some minor remarks on their identification. Many of the species mentioned can be found figured in Albani (1979). Agglutinate species: Hippocrepina sp. cf. flexibilis Wiesner (1931). Small, very finely arenaceaous sac- like tests are placed here. Identification at species level is not certain as only four specimens were covered and each showed some form of test distortion. Hippocrepina flexibilis was recorded from sub-antarctic waters by Parr (1950) and similar specimens have been found in Western Port and in Queensland waters (pers. obs.). Milliammina fusca Brady (1879) (Fig. 4.1). This is a characteristic species of all Victorian hypo-saline waters. All speci- mens from Mallacoota Inlet were small and incorporated much black material in their tests which gave them a very dark appearance. All specimens had an apertural tooth. Ammodiscus mestayeri Cushman (1919) (Fig 4.2). Parr (1945) recorded this species from shore sands at Barwon Heads. Both megalospheric and microspheric gen- €rations are present at Mallacoota. 3 see subconica Parr (1950) (Fig =) Parr described this species from Tasmanian waters and referred to it a specimen collected (dead) from Barwon 12 Heads (Parr 1945). The Tasmanian specimens had four chambers in the last whorl whereas the Barwon Heads specimen only three. All the Mallacoota specimens had three chambers in the last whorl. Eggerella polita Collins (1953) (Fig. 4.4). Originally described from the Great Barrier Reef; this seems to be the first record for Victorian waters. Leptohalysis sp. This delicate, flexible species is to be described in a forthcoming paper on the foraminiferal fauna of Western Port. It has been found living in Western Port and in Port Phillip Bay (Collins 1974) and also as a fossil in an as yet undescribed core from Corner Inlet. It is related to the scotti group of campanu- late-chambered flexible species formerly placed in Reophax but transferred to Leptohalysis by Loeblich and Tappan (1984). Reophax barwonensis Collins (1974) (Fig. 4.5). A widespread species in the Inlet but only rare specimens were found in Group B samples. The size of the prolo- culus varies — a few specimens show one as large as that figured by Collins but usually it is not larger than the suc- ceeding chamber. Loeblich and Tappan (1984) placed this species in their new genus Scherochorella; however, it is here retained in Reophax as it differs in many respects from Scherochorella viz. large not tiny, aperture not flush, test not flattened, test wall not thin, Reophax nana Rhumbler (1913). In samples 10 and 25 rare specimens of a small, linear Reophax occur which seem to be identical with that figured by Parker et al. (1953) from San Antonio Bay, Texas, as R. nana. Previous records are all from deep ocean waters and it may be that the Mallacoota Inlet specimens belong to a new species. Haplophragmoides pusillus Collins (1974) (Fig 4.6). Victorian Nat. CO __<$_—_—_—_—_— — — — — Research Report Originally described from Port Phillip Bay this species has not been subsequently recorded. Ammobaculites barwonensis Collins (1974) (Figs 4.7-4.9). Described from the Barwon River | estuary but has since been found to occur widespread in Victorian estuarine conditions (Apthorpe 1980; pers. obs.). Collins was doubtful as to the generic placement as his specimens did not have __an obvious aperture and he suggested that interstices between the sand grains on the distal face may have acted as such. Most specimens from the Inlet have a terminal elongate aperture but rare specimens are imaperturate as Collins’ type but are otherwise indistinguishable. Juvenile specimens are common in the Inlet, i.e. specimens consisting of only the initial | slightly trochospiral coil; these always show an elongate equatorial aperture. Ammobaculites exiguus Cushman and Bronnimann (1948). This species is easily distinguished from A, barwonensis in its slender linear segment, more definite sutures and a circular terminal aperture. Juveniles of only the initial whorl differ from those of A. barwonensis in being planispiral and have a circular aperture. Ammoscalaria sp.? In sample 26, near the entrance to the Inlet, were found rare specimens of a large, planispiral species with a circular aperture but which differed significantly from A, exiguus in size, well impressed sutures and rougher surface. No specimens were found with a linear segment. These specimens seem to be closely allied to Ammoscalaria runiana found on the west coast of Scotland (Heron-Allen and Earland 1916) and in the Gullmar Fjord, Sweden (Hoglund 1947). Textularia porrecta Brady (1884) (Fig. 4.11). Small specimens were found in Group B samples. Trochammina sorosa Parr (1950) (Fig. 4.12). Vol. 109 (1) 1992 Rare specimens only in sample 25. Trochammina inflata Montagu (1808) (Fig. 4.14). Living specimens were uncommon, but fresh-looking unweathered forms were fre- quent in Top Lake. It seems to be tolerant of low salinities and muddy substrates. Martinotiella sp. (Fig. 4.13). Test agglutinate; elongate, slender, cylindrical, slightly arcuate; a short triserial or trochospiral section initially is followed by either two or four biseriaJ chambers and then a long uniserial section. Chambers are wider than high (about 3:1), sutures depressed and well defined. Wall of test formed of moderate sized grains set in a fine groundmass, smooth surface. Aperture terminal, rounded and set flush or in a slight depression. Size: length - up to 0.45 mm; width - 0.1 mm. In Top Lake (sample 8) there occurred specimens referred here to Martinotiella sp. This genus has been recorded previously in Victorian inlets; Collins (1974) refers to M. primaeva near the entrance to Port Phillip Bay and Apthorpe (1980) to M. cf. communis from the Gippsland Lakes. The present specimens differ from M. primaeva which has a long biserial section and an elongate aperture on a slender apertural neck, and from M, communis in which the early chambers are fusiform with 4-5 chambers in the early whorls (Cushman 1937); both these species are also characteristic of very deep water (Cushman 1937). The Mallacoota specimens seem to be close to that figured by Apthorpe (1980) for the Gippsland Lakes but, at present, the nomenclature is left open until more specimens are available for study. Calcareous species Spiroloculina aequa Cushman (1932). One live specimen was found in sample 25 near the entrance. Collins (1974) recorded this species from beach sands at Barwon Heads. Live specimens have been 13 Research Report Victorian Nat. Research Report Fig. 4. (1) Miliammina fusca x100; (2) Ammodiscus mestayeri x200; (3) Eggerella subconica x150; (4) Eggerella polita x120; (5) Reophax bar- wonensis x100; (6) Haplophragmoides pusillus x120; (7) Ammobaculites barwonensis x50; (8) A. barwonensis x150; (9) A. barwonensis x120, apertural view; (10) Ammobaculites exiguus x50; (11) Textularia porrecta x200; (12) Trochammina sorosa x200, last chamber broken; (13) Martinotiella sp. x120; (14) Trochammina inflata x100; (15) Quinqueloculina poeyana x50; (16) Quinqueloculina seminula x100; (17) Bolivina pseudoplicata x20; (18) Bolivina compacta x150; (19) Elphidium depressulum x100; (20) Elphidium poeyanum x200, last chamber broken; (21) Elphidium simplex x120; (22) Nonionella auris x100. found in Western Port living on an algal slime (pers. obs.). Sigmoilina australis Parr (1932). Rarely found in estuarine waters as it is characteristic of fully open marine conditions. When present in enclosed waters it is only present near the entrances (Port Phillip Bay, Collins 1974; Western Port, Bell in prep.). Bulimina gibba (Fornasini 1902) Very rare specimens occurring near the entrance are placed in this species. They are similar to that figured by Albani (1979) but have slightly more globose chambers. Bolivina pseudoplicata Heron-Allen and Earland (1930) (Fig. 4.17). Previously recorded in Victoria from the Gippsland Lakes (Apthorpe 1980) and Barwon Heads (Parr 1945). The degree to which the posterior ridges on each chamber are developed varies greatly producing some almost smooth specimens whilst others have large re-entrants. The genus Elphidium In recent years this genus has been broken up into many new genera based upon characters which are variable and of doubtful generic (but possibly of specific) value (Hansen and Lykke-Andersen 1976). In this listing we have used the genus Elphidium sensu lato and placed all species present in it. Vol. 109 (1) 1992 Elphidium argenteum Parr (1945). The silvery sheen of the surface of this species is a useful aid in identification. It occurs in Bass Strait and the lower parts of Port Phillip Bay with rare specimens in the northern parts of Port Phillip Bay (Collins 1974), but had not been recorded elsewhere in Victoria. Elphidium gunteri corioense Collins (1974). Described from Port Phillip Bay; recorded from N.S.W. (Albani 1979) as an Elphidiella but Elphidiella has areal apertures as well as the row of small pores at the base of the apertural face; as the present specimens do not have these areal apertures they are placed in Elphidium. Elphidium poeyanum d’Orb. (1839) (Fig. 4.20). A small, compressed, smooth species with short retral processes and a depressed umbilical area. Specimens were rare and confined to the more saline samples. Elphidium simplex Cushman (1933) (Fig. 4.21). When present occurs only as infrequent specimens. Nonionella auris d’Orb (1839) (Fig. 4.22). Two specimens only were found. It is known from N.S.W. (Albani 1979). References Albani, A.D. (1979). Recent Shallow Water Foraminiferida. /n ‘N.S.W. Australian Marine Sciences Assocation, Handbook No. 3°, 57. Apthorpe, M. (1980). Foraminiferal Distribution in the Estuarine Gippsland Lakes Systems. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 91, 207-232. Bird, E. C. F (1973). Estuaries and Lagoons. Victorian Resources. 15, 2-7. Collins, A. C. 1953, Foraminifera. Great Barrier Reef Expedition. 1928-29, Scientific Report 6: 335-437, pl. 5. Collins, A. C. (1974). Foraminiferida, Port Phillip Survey, 1957-63. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria. 35, \-62, pl. 4. Cushman, J. A. (1937). A Monograph of the Foraminiferal Family Valvulinidae. Cushman Laboratory for Foraminiferal Research, Special Publication. 8, 210, Gill, E. D. (1971). Radiocarbon Dating in Victoria, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 81, 70-85. 15 Contributions Hansen, H. J. and Lykke-Andersen, A. (1976). Wall structure and classification of fossil and recent elphidiid and nonionid foraminifera, Fossil and Strata 10, 1-37. Heron-Allen, E. and Earland, A. (1916). The Foraminifera of the West coast of Scotland. Transactions of the Linnaean Society London, Zoology MU, part 13. Hoglund, H. (1947), Foraminifera in the Gullmar Fjord and the Skagerak. Zoologiska Bidrag, Uppsala 26, 328, pl. 32 pl. Loeblich, A.R, and Tappan, H. (1984). Some new Proteinaceous and Agglutinated Genera of Foraminifera. Journal of Paleontology. 58, 1158-1163. Murray, J. W, (1973), ‘Distribution and Ecology of Living Benthic Foraminiferida. (Heinemann: London.) Parker, F. L., Phleger, F B, and Peirson, J. F, (1953). Ecology of Foraminifera from San Antonio Bay and Environs, Southwest Texas. Cushman Foundation for Formaminiferal Research Special Publication 2, 75, pl. 4. Parr, W. J. (1945), Recent Foraminifera from Barwon Heads, V. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 56, 189-217. Parr, W. J. (1959). Foraminifera. B. A. N. Z. Antarctic Research Expedition 1929-1931, Report Series B. 5, 233-392. Reinson, G. E. (1977). Hydrology and sediments of a temperate estuary - Mallacoota Inlet, V. Bureau of Mineral Resources, geology and geophysics, Australian Bulletin 178, 91. Sanchez Ariza, M. C. (1983), Specific thanato- coenoses of Recent Planktonic foraminifera of the Neritic zone in the Motril-Nerja area, Spain, as a function of depth diversity and constancy, Journal of Foraminiferal Research 13, 277-282. French Island and its Orchids Report of a talk given by Gary Backhouse to the General Meeting of the FNCV at the Herbarium on 10th September 1990. Introductory remarks about French Island Gary had been associated with French Island as a staff member of the Depart- ment of Conservation and Environment since 1982. French Island is approximately 20 km long and 12 km wide, with an area of 17,000 hectares, and probably a lot more when mudflats emerge at low tide. Over half the island is incuded in the French Island State Park. The remainder is privately owned. There is a small resident population of 40 to 50 people. Thirty people own land on the island and visit from time to time. The island is generally flat and featureless, being mostly 30 m above sea level, whilst the highest point reaches 70 m above sea level. About two thirds of the island is still covered with native vegetation, including extensive heathlands and wetlands, The bird life Because of its inaccessibility and varied habitats, the island is a naturalist’s paradise. Over 260 different species of birds, including many sea birds, migratory waders and bush birds, have been recorded from the area. Notable are the 16 two pairs of White-breasted Sea Eagles. The Australian Pelican is permanent with regular annual breeding colonies on the island. In the tidal salt marshes there are mangrove flats and very good swamps which support breeding water birds like ibis, cormorants and herons. Koalas Koalas were introduced to French Island in the late 1800’s. Less than 200 hectares are suitable habitats for koalas. The population is free from Chlamydia (a disease reducing fertility), and doubles every three years or so, causing the defoliation of the Manna Gums (Euca- lyptus viminalis) on the island. Excess numbers are captured and relocated elsewhere. Orchids through the seasons Some 78 species of orchids have been identified so far on the island. The various species which have been observed will be described below, in the consecutive seasonal phases in which they appear. Their flowering periods are summarised in the table provided. Victorian Nat. | Contributions Early Autumn Following the first autumn rains in March or April, the very small midge orchids appear. Formerly referred to as the genus Prasophyllum, they are now referred to as Genoplesium. Species include Genoplesium despectans (long acuminate and lanceolate lateral septae and label- lum); G. morrisii (very long cilia fringing the dorsal sepal, petals and irritable labellum, the perianth 4-6 mm long and blackish-purple); G. parviflorum (broadly deltoid to almost orbicular labellum, with the lateral sepals more or less connate toward the base) and G. nigricans (the Dark Midge Orchid, with a diamond- shaped labellum for about two thirds its length) are representative species. Contemporaneously can be seen the Fringed Hare Orchid (Leptoceras fim- briatum), and Parson’s Bands (Eriochilus cucullatus). In the case of the latter, the flowers emerge and die before the leaves appear. Late Autumn By the month of May, bird orchids and greenhoods appear for the first time. The genus for bird orchids is Chiloglottis. The Autumn Bird Orchid (Chiloglottis reflexa) can occur as early as February if there is rain then. Two flat lying leaves with slightly crinkled, wavy edges send up an 8 cm stalk, which supports a flower with a velvety, dark red tongue. The Common Bird Orchid (C. gunni), flowers in spring and has two flat, smooth-edged leaves. The greenhoods, Tiny Greenhood (Pterostylis parviflora), and Prawn or Tailed Greenhood (P. pedoglossa), become common as winter approaches. Pterostylis parviflora has at least three tiny flowers in the scape. The head is more or less 1 cm long, and the leaves are rarely present at flowering time. Pterostylis pedoglossa by contrast, has a rosette of leaves at the base, whilst the head can be up to 1.5 cm long. Early Winter Once winter rains fall, there are more and more greenhoods, accompanied by Vol. 109 (1) 1992 gnat orchids. Common greenhoods are the Banded Greenhood (FP. vittata), the Striped Greenhood (P. alata), the Tall Greenhood (P longifolia) the Dwarf Greenhood (P nana), the Blunt Greenhood (P curta), and the Nodding Greenhood (P. nutans). The Common Gnat Orchid (formerly Acianthus exsertus, now Cyrtostylis exsertus) has flowers that are as small as gnats, which they resemble. It has one heart-shaped dark-green leaf with a reddish under surface. A related species is the May-fly Orchid (C. caudatus), growing in more shady places, emitting a wet dog odour so attracting a fungus gnat to pollinate it. The leaf is more crimped and irregular in shape. The Mosquito Orchid (C. reniformis) appears in late winter as a prelude to spring. Mid- Winter In June and July helmet orchids appear. Corybas grows on damp ground under dense vegetation, and quickly dries out in the wind. The systematics of this group has changed recently. The Slaty Helmet Orchid (Corybas incurvis) has a curved tim on the labellum. The species needs damp, still conditions to flower properly. The Veined Helmet Orchid is now C. diemenicus. Fordham’s Helmet Orchid (C. ford- hami) grows under Melaleuca squarrosa. The dorsal sepal folds forward and obscures the labellum. It grows singly with a tiny vestigial leaf. Late Winter The Bearded Greenhood (Pterostylis plumosa) has a characteristic bearded labellum or tongue and is very attractive to look at. Corybas unguiculatus can be compared with C, fordhami in having a bulbous, dorsal sepal in the labellum, and grows in eucalypt woodland. Donkey orchids begin to appear, for example the Leopard Orchid (Diuris maculata) has two large ear-like petals, spotted like a leopard. The Wallflower Donkey Orchid (D. longifolia) has strikingly large flowers, on slender stalks, of usually rich yellow and brown. 17 Contributions The Lizard Orchid (Burneltia cuneata) only grows in Scented Paperbark (Mela- leuca squarrosa) swamps, being leafless, though with tiny green pigment in the stem. The orchid is a saprophyte, only flowering after bushfires, Burnt swamps are rare, so two to three years after a fire there’s no sign of it. Spring The Common Onion Orchid (Microtis untfolia) grows in disturbed habitats. Its seeds germinate rapidly. The Common Bird Orchid (Chiloglottis gunni) grows in open forest and woodland. The Wallflower Donkey Orchid, formerly Diuris longi- folia, is now known as Diuris corymbosa, It is very attractive, probably being pollinated by insects by accident like the Diuris maculata which imitates bush peas with which it is associated (Beardsell ef al. 1986), Pink Fairies (Caladenia carnea) is a pale to deep pink or even red in some cases, growing about 10 cm high usually with one or two flowers and rarely up to four, The Thick-lipped Spider Orchid (C. clavigera) is also known from Anglesea and Wilson’s Promontory, The Black-tongued Caladenia (C, congesta) has the mid-lobe of the labellum completely covered by two rows of tightly packed reddish-black calli, especially crowded onto the end of the labellum, This orchid favours woodland on heavy soils, The Blue Fairy Orchid (C. deformis) grows up to 10 cm tall, with a solitary blue flower, whose labellum, 1.5 cm long is a mass of tufted calli, It is therefore sometimes described as the Blue Beard Caladenia. The Green-comb Spider Orchid (C. dilatata) grows up to 15 cm high. The flower can be up to 10 em across, usually green, yellow, or maroon, and red-striped segments up to 5 cm long. The labellum is green, red, maroon, and yellowish-white, movable, trilobed, with a hood 2-3 em wide, and recurved about the middle. The lateral lobes are erect, green, and deeply 18 combed or fringed. It is likely there are two or three different species in this taxon. The Musky Caladenia (C. gracilis) has a distinctive hooded flower. Pink Fairies, or Sugar Candy Caladenia (C. latifolia) is common on the coastal sand dunes, and is characterised by the lateral lobes of the labellum being barred with pink. The central lobe has a few long lateral teeth and a pink central blotch. The calli are rather irregularly arranged in two converging rows. The Hare or Rabbit Orchid (C. men- ziesii), with pink and white flowers, has lateral petals about twice as long as the sepals. The petals are erect, clavate, and dark reddish, about 2 cm long. The sepals are broad, the dorsal one being hooked. The labellum is ovate, about 7 mm long, with entire margins. The column is barred with transverse, pink striae. This Ca/la- denia is best seen following a hot summer bushfire. The Pygmy Caladenia (C. pygmyae) grows less than 10 cm high with flowers just a few mm long, and flowers later than C. carnea, as well as other unnamed ones which are likely to be endemic to the island. The Bronze Caladenia (C. iridescens) is not really iridescent. Being 10-20cem high, with a purplish stem, and a small bract around the middle, the plant is subtended by a narrow leaf 5-10 cm long. The plant carries from one to four flowers, each being 2 to 2.5 cm diam. and strikingly coloured from reddish and golden tints to purplish crimson and green tips. Its prominent labellum is trilobed, with entire margins, red transverse markings and Stalked black knobs. Late Spring Late spring is the time for leek orchids (Prasophyllum), sun orchids (Thelymitra), beard orchids (Calochilus) and the Wax- lip Orchid (Glossodia major). The Tall Leek Orchid (Prasophyllum elatum) can have up to 100 flowers crowded on the spike, which are upside down on the stem. The plant can grow up Victorian Nat. Contributions to over | m high, but normally ranges between 40 and 80 cm in height. The Austral Leek Orchid (P australe) grows in swampy heathlands and is more slender, growing to 50 cm, the leaf lamina being shorter than the inflorescence. The Scented Leek Orchid (P odoratum) so called because of its faint spicy odour, is a lowland or hill plant, 50-70 cm high. The sepals are always free and curved, the petals being slightly shorter, with less pink tonings and a brownish stripe along each. The Slender Leek Orchid (PF parvi- Jlorum) usually has less than 50 flowers on the spike, with petals green or brownish, and streaked with red. The flowers are widely spaced along the spike, with all floral segments less than 4 mm. The labellum has a prominently raised callus, and is wholly green. Lyperanthus is a genus of terrestrial herbs having fleshy tubers. It has a solitary basal leaf, which is long and narrow, or broad and thick. The dorsal sepal is broad and hooded, whilst the other segments are narrow. The Red-beak Orchid (L. nigricans) needs summer fire to flower. It grows also in the Pines Reserve at Frankston. It is a stout plant 25 cm high, and dries black, hence its species name. The Brown-beak Orchid (L. suaveolens) is a graceful, robust, and glabrous terrestrial growing up to 40 cm high. It grows among heath with a woodland overstorey, also in the Dandenongs. The Wax-lip Orchid (Glossodia major) grows up to 25 cm high, subtended by a solitary, basal broadly lanceolate or oblong leaf, 8 cm long, arising from plump tubers. It has one striking usually purple or mauve flower, rarely there are two. Occasionally there is a white form, and rarely a double white form, Large colonies are often found in lightly timbered areas or in scrubland. Beard Orchids (Calochilus) is a group of slender, robust terrestrials, with ovoid tubers. Each species has a solitary, channelled, linear leaf, and a leaf-like bract. Flowers are variable in number Vol. 109 (1) 1992 carried upon a loose raceme. Dorsal sepals are erect, concave and broad. The lateral sepals spread, whilst the petals are shorter than the sepals. The labellum is most prominent, being longer than the other segments and densely-bearded, with long reddish-purple or brown hairs. The Copper-beard Orchid (C. campestris) has reddish brown to purple hairs on the labellum. The Red-beard Orchid (C. paludosus) has reddish hair tufts right along the labellum. Brown-beards or Purplish-beard Orchid (C. robertsoni) has eyes, which are hair tufts with yellow tips on the hairy labellum. Sun Orchids (Thelymitra) - This genus of orchids has ovoid tubers. A solitary elongated, narrow, fluted, or channelled leaf, subtends colourful flowers, the differentiation of which is the basis for their classification. They need sunny or warm weather for the flowers to open — hence the name - “Sun Orchid”. They are self pollinating. Rabbit Ears (Thelymitra antennifera) is 10-25 cm high, with a rather long, linear and channelled leaf, subtending a stem with two angled bracts. One to three, rarely more, pale to deep yellow flowers, have a red stripe outside. Each flower opens freely and can be more than 1 cm across, smelling like a rose. The two prominent appendages in the centre of the flower account for the specific name. Scented Sun Orchid (7: aristata) grows to waist height. The stem is as thick as your thumb, with about 40 blue flowers or more. The blue flowers have white hair tufts on the column. Pink or Tiny Sun Orchid (TJ. carnea) needs a warm, sunny day to open the flowers which are less than 1.5 cm wide, with smooth column appendages, The Blotched Sun Orchid (1. bentham- jana) (was formerly 7. fusco-lutea) is a stout, robust plant, 15-40 cm high arising from sub-globose tubers. It has one of the widest leaves of the Thelymitras, up to 12 cm long and 5 cm wide, being ovate- 19 Contributions lanceolate and sheathing. There are one to two stem bracts. There are two to six flowers in the raceme, each flower being 2.5 cm across. Colour is yellowish green to brown blotches to yellow with reddish blotches with spots on rather long stalks. The Twisted Sun Orchid (7. flexuosa) can be compared with T. antennifera. It grows up to 15 cm high, with a wiry, rather zig-zagging stem. The leaf is short, up to 6 cm, terete and stem-clasping below. Flowers are one to three, small, yellow, and with obtuse perianth segments, growing well in sandy heathlands. Thelymitra holmesii has a circular yellow apex to the column, with white hair tufts. The Dotted Sun Orchid (7: ixioides), slender and somewhat robust, grows between 20 and 50 cm high, with a narrow channelled leaf up to 12 cm long. Flowers nine to ten in number are on slender stalks, usually blue or mauve, but some- times violet, purple-blue, pink or white. The three upper segments (dorsal, sepal and petals) are always spotted. Flowers are 3 cm across. The Slender Sun Orchid (7: pauciflora) ranges between 10 and 45 cm high. Leaf is thick and fleshy, but variable in length. Up to three stem bracts. Flowers are star- shapped varying from three to twelve, but rarely 15. They open up to 2 cm diam., but require very hot weather to do so. They vary in colour from white, mauve, pale to medium blue, purple and pink. Flowers are short lived and self pollinating. Late Spring to Summer The last of the orchids to flower include the duck orchids, onion orchids, Potato Orchid (Cinnamon Bells), Horned Orchid, Hyacinth Orchid and the Small Tongue Orchid. The Large Duck Orchid (Paracaleana major) grows in dry heaths in woodland. Being 15-30 cm high, on a wiry, reddish- brown stem, the duck-like head is very distinctive. The Small Duck Orchid (Paracaleana minor) varies in height between 6-15 cm 20 and is much smaller with up to three flowers, but rarely up to seven. Again the duck shape is very distinctive and smaller. Yellow Onion Orchid or Swamp Leek Orchid (Microtis atrata) is only 5 or 6 cm high with tiny flowers which blacken on drying. Sweet Onion Orchid or Scented Leek Orchid (M. oblonga) (was M. orbicularis) has a slender spike with rather widely- spaced fragrant flowers. The lateral sepals are tightly revolute. Cinnamon Bells (Gastrodia sesamoides) is a saprophyte on a Basidiomycete fungus which it grows with. It is also known as the Potato Orchid. The underground tuberous rhizomes resemble small Jerusalem Artichokes (Bates & Weber 1990). Summer The Horned Orchid (Orthoceras stric- tum) lives in heaths and heathy grasslands and flowers best from November to January. The Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium punctatum) is also known as the Spotted Orchid. It is epi-parasitic on Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua), thriving after bushfires. It is leafless and varies from 30 cm to | metre high. It has 20 to 40 flowers on a 30cm raceme. The Small Tongue Orchid (Cryptostylis leptochila) is pollinated by a male Ich- neumonid Wasp (Lissopimpla semi- punctata) as the flower imitates the female of this wasp species. Likewise the Large Tongue Orchid (C. subulata) is pollinated similarly. Both are swamp growing and flower well into summer. Members were most impressed with the detail and coverage of Gary’s slides, together with the detail given on orchid habitats and associations. The chairman expressed gratitude to Gary in giving up his time to present members with an up- to-date and comprehensive account of the orchids on French Island. Noel Schleiger Arthur Farnworth Victorian Nat. eS OS — SS Ss eee ee eee eee eee ee, Contributions References Acknowledgements Bates, R. J., and Webber, J. Z. (1990). ‘Orchids of The authors are grateful to Dorothy South Australia’. Flora and Fauna SA Hand- ‘ : book Committee. (SA Government Printer.) Mahler for typing the manuscript and to Beardsell, D. V., Clements, M. A., Hutchinson, J. Robyn Watson and Ed Grey for F. and Williams, E. G. (1986). Pollination of | constructive help with the text. Diuris maculata R.Br. (Orchidaceae) by floral mimicry of the native legumes Daviesia spp. and Pultenaea scabra R.Br. Australian Journal of Botany 34, 165-173. [rsidspais | Conmonsane [J] [3 [a S[O] ND] ccnp dpaians |Suapes onic _lelelelel | || 1 [| || | Golan nest |ramavionona | lelelel | 111 [1 cenit nrvitorin| Skater Misgsoreis | Jolole! | | 111111 elel TTL Vol. 109 (1) 1992 21 Contributions Thick-lipped Spider Orchi Black-tongued Caladenia Blue Fairies Green-comb Spider Orchi Delicate Caladenia Sugar-candy Caladenia Hare or Rabbit Orchid Pygmy Caladenia cada tides [BroeeCansenin | | 1111111 Telele woneatecrorna ||| 1111S fel! ttle tact | Prasophyltum odoratwm | Scented Leek Orchid | | | | | | | | [elelele esr enetioeCret__{ tt} 1 [ fetetes | neosaxorns | || 111 | felelel || | Lyreranthus suaveolens | Brown Beak Orehid |_| | | | | [ [elelel | | [Wax Lip Orchid | [Purple Beard Orchid | [Red Beard Orchid | [Brown Beard Orchid | m[a|m||s|4|s[o|N[D_ Common name J Pink Fairies Wax Lip Orchid ] catchiuscampse —[rwmiedexa ora | | | || [| folelel | | Red Beard Orchid | | | | lele| Brown Beard Orchid a Themis anemia [Rabi Ear SeGeeee80000 rhevmivaarsre —_[senetsinond | || ||] Telefe] | 1 Pink or Tiny Sun Orchid ae jera_|RabbitFars | : [Scented Sun Orchid | [Pink or Tiny Sun Orchid _| Thelymitra benthamiana | Blotched Sun Orchid | | [| Thelymitra flexuosa [Twisted Sun Orchid ||| [Thebmira hoist [aime Sun Onsid | [| Theymira isis | Doted Sun venia | |] cates maior | ange Duck nei |] 1 J Catena minor [Sma Duck oved To] [J [Mirasaraa | Yeon Onion Ovned |_| 1] [Mizrsobinga [swt nion rtd | |] | Gasroda sean [Cinnamon Ortid wf | Ontos sriaum | Hored oxnia_ |e fo | m__| Hyacinth Orchid fe fo [| [Small Tongue Orchid [@ [@ [| Lame Tongue Orchid [eo fo [o| Cryptostylis leptochila Small Tongue Orchid Cryptostylis subulata Large Tongue Orchid 22 Victorian Nat. Contributions 4 Notes from the National Herbarium of Victoria No. 10 The Names of Plants — In Pursuit of the Correct Name Ian Clarke* This is the second in a small series of articles dealing with aspects of plant nomenclature. The first appeared in Vict. Nat. vol. 108 (5). An understanding of the contents of the previous article, while perhaps not essential, has been assumed. This series is part of an ongoing occasional series from the National Herbarium of Victoria. Whether amateur or professional and from whatever background, people interested in plants often feel a sense of frustration over name changes. These changes are sometimes thought, incor- rectly, to be the misguided whims of taxonomic botanists. In fact they reflect the serious attempt by “Botanical Science” to classify and name the inhabitants of the vegetable kingdom, and as our under- standing is refined and extended so are revisions and changes inevitable. Pursuing this process to a logical conclusion, one can conceive a time in the future when changes will become less and less common. The following notes describe the often difficult course a name must chart in order to be accepted as “correct”, and point out some of the reasons why name changes occur. The discussion concentrates on the names of “species” as the basic unit in plant classification, however the general principles outlined often have a broader application to other ranks as well. It should be remembered that the name of a species consists of the combination of two words — the generic name and the specific epithet. Species names are often referred to as binomials. The naming of plants is governed by the International Code of Botanical Nomen- clature (ICBN). The Code is made up of six principles, and numerous articles (rules) and recommendations. The fourth * National Herbarium of Victoria, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, 3141, Vol. 109 (1) 1992 principle, expressed simply, states that a particular kind of plant can have only one correct name. Unfortunately many kinds of plants, during the past several hundred years of botanical endeavour, have received more than one name. Because of this, a large part of the Code deals with the problem of answering the question, “Which one is correct?” Australian botany has suffered much in this regard as so many of the early collections were sent back to Europe for study and naming. Botanical science in the colonies. did not get underway until the appointment of Ferdinand Mueller as Victorian Government Botanist in 1853. The doubling-up of names is graphically illustrated by figures published in two recent texts. The Australian Plant Names Index (Chapman, 1991), which attempts to include every name ever published for Australian vascular plants, lists 37,900 species names, In contrast, the Census of Australian Vascular Plants (Hnatiuk, 1990) includes less than half of these, (17,590) as names of currently recognised species. This situation has come about in two main ways. Firstly, many superfluous names have been published through an author being unaware of previously published available names, particularly in the past when communication was not as easy or rapid as it is today, Secondly, many names were given to “species” based on the examination of relatively few speci- mens. Later botanists, having a greater range of material to work with, have often 23 Contributions been forced to reconsider the extent of variation acceptable within one species and, as a consequence, have united two or more species under the one correct name, Of course, the reverse situation also occurs, where what was previously accepted as one “variable species” is subsequently recognised as a number of species. Often botanists are aware of “problem species” such as these that are simply waiting their turn for revision in the light of current knowledge. For the time being the name applied may be the most appropriate one available. To be eligible for contention as correct, a name must satisfy the various conditions laid down in the ICBN, summarised in the accompanying diagram. If a name cannot proceed steadily downwards, following the vertical arrows, it cannot be accepted as Names (known to refer to a particular species) is each name Teoria Published? no yes is each name | Validly Published? yes | is each name ie Seem scenes no yes | | | | | which name has | Priority? younger oldest | | | | — synonyms 24 the correct one. Effective publication basically refers to the necessity for properly distributed, printed matter (i.e. not a handwritten manuscript). Valid publication involves a number of technical requirements, in particular, the new name must be accompanied by a latin description or diagnosis (a statement enabling it to be distinguished from known species), an indication of the name’s rank, and the designation of a Type Specimen. To be legitimate, a name must be “in accordance with the rules” These include, besides the above, a number of other conditions, e.g., the name (binomial) must not have been used before for another species, and it should not be superfluous to requirements (i.e., it must be needed, there being no other available name). Priority - the earliest legitimate name for a species (i.e., the first published of those that have progressed down the chart) has priority over all other later names. Victorian Nat. Contributions The detailed meanings of Effective Publication, Validity, Legitimacy and Correctness can be followed up in the accompanying references; the notes beside the diagram should be taken as a guide. The application of the rule of priority necessitates detailed literature searches, and has often resulted in a familiar name being replaced by one overlooked and long forgotten. With the advent of computers and databases, proposals have been put forward to establish a “world list of current, accepted plant names” This would set a new starting point for accepted names; any obscure names not listed would not be considered in decisions relating to priority. This issue remains unresolved. The names relegated to synonymy as a consequence of botanical revisions, even though not correctly used for a particular kind of plant, nevertheless are still important. A substantial amount of information may be embodied in the literature under the various synonyms, and for this reason botanists expend time and energy establishing accurate lists called ‘synonymies’. These ensure that all relevant information can be readily accessed, It must also be recognised that names are dependent on classification. To a certain extent this is a matter of botanical opinion. One author may follow a class- ification that proposes a broad concept of a particular group and adopt the appro- priate names, while another author may follow a different classification proposing a narrower concept that requires changes to some of the names. Both sets of names can be correct within the context of their respective classifications. Which names one should take up and use is then a matter of botanical judgement as to the soundness of the classification. The Census of the Vascular Plants of Victoria (Ross, 1990), now in its third edition, is often referred to as a standard list of names. The inclusion of proposed name changes for Victorian species in subse- Vol. 109 (1) 1992 quent editions will necessitate such judgements by Herbarium staff. In floras and reports and other technical literature, there is often an introductory statement to the effect that the nomen- clature or classification adopted follows that of a recognised author. For example, at the level of families, the new Flora of Australia series (George, 1981) follows the classification scheme recently proposed by the American botanist Arthur Cronquist. One result of his broad concept of certain families, the Lilies (Liliaceae) for example, is that some genera traditionally included elsewhere by other authors are now included here. The Flora of Australia series is providing a considerable stimulus to Australian taxonomic botany and by the time it is completed shortly after the turn of the century, all plant groups will have undergone some form of reappraisal if not major revision. There are still many gaps in our knowledge, as well as areas of the continent that await through botanical exploration, but the production of the Flora may well mark the beginning of a period of relative stability for the names of Australian plants. Acknowledgements Thanks are due to Jim Ross and David Albrecht for their comments on the manuscript. References and further reading Chapman, A. D. (1991). ‘Australian plant name index’. 4 vols. (Australian Government Publication Service: Canberra. No 12 in the Australian Biological Resources Study Flora and Fauna Series. George, A. S. (1981-). *Flora of Australia’, vol. I- (Australian Government Publication Service: Canberra.) /] vols. published to date. Gledhill, D. (1989). ‘The names of plants’. 2nd ed. (Cambridge University Press.) Greuter, W. et al. (eds), (1988). ‘International code of botanical nomenclature’. (International Association of Plant Taxonomy: Utrecht), Part of the series, Regnum Vegetabile, vol. 118. Hnatiuk, R. J. (1990). ‘Census of Australian plants’. (Australian Government Publication Service: Canberra.) No. 11 in the Australian Biology Resources Study Flora and Fauna Series. 25 Naturalists Notes : Jeffrey, C. (1973). ‘Biological nomenclature. (Edward Arnold: London). Lumley, P. and Spencer, R. (1990). ‘Plant Names. A guide to botanical nomenclature’. (Royal Botanic Gardens; Melbourne). Ross, J. H. (1990). ‘A census of the vascular plants of Victoria’ 3rd ed. (National Herbarium of Victoria, Department of Conservation and Environment: Melbourne.) Third Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri) Search Peter Robertson* The third monitoring search for the Spotted Tree Frog, Litoria spenceri, held on Saturday and Sunday, 23-24 November 1991, was extremely successful. Weather conditions were ideal with a maximum temperature of 26 degrees C. and water temperatures between 14 and 15 degrees C. The search was held in the vicinity of the Taponga River campground, reference NATMAP8123, AMG 158 626. Sections of the Taponga River, Still Creek, White Creek and the Big River were searched. A total of 27 people assisted in the search, and apart from individual persons, they included members of the Depart- ment of Conservation and Environment, Victoria Herpetological Group, Ballarat Reptile Park and The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. Choruses of calling males were heard for Conservation Issues the first time, and 66 frogs were found by the searchers: 30 - calling male frogs 12 - male frogs not calling 5 — breeding female frogs 5 - sub-adults or individuals not sexed 14 — metamorphlings No eggs or tadpoles were found, nor any of the frogs marked on the previous trips (November 1990 and February 1991). Of the 66 individuals encountered, 47 were toe-clipped and released at the site of capture, 16 were recorded but not captured and toe-clipped and 3 died. These latter ones will be lodged in the Museum of Victoria. Many thanks to all who helped in the search. *Department of Conservation and Environment, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084. Conservation Issues In each publication we will keep you informed of current conservation and environmental issues which are relevant to the Club and its members. We have been sent the following reports on which to comment. These are held in the office and members who are interested are invited to view them there, or by arrangement with the Conservation Co-ordinator, Julian Grusovin. 1, Port of Melbourne Authority: Victorian Ports Land Use Plan. Draft Final Report. 2. Department of Conservation and Environment: Baw Baw National Park Resources and Uses, and Proposed Management Plan. 3. Department of Arts, Sport, Environment and Territories: Questionnaire on Rainforest Conservation. 4. Department of Conservation and Environment: Request for information on mammal, frog, reptile and bird numbers for certain areas of Victoria. 26 Victorian Nat. Reports Annual Report of the Microscopical Group of the FNCV April 1990 —- March 1991 During the year attendance averaged 15 members and three visitors, per meeting. We have gained new members from the advertisements placed in The Age newspaper while others have attended as visitors. Vale — Fred Thorpe died 18th August 1990 while on holiday in Seattle, U.S.A. Clifford Nance, a member of the FNCV for over sixty five years, died 1991, in his 93rd year. Lectures for the year — March 21 Mr Bock, lecturer in Bryozoans. Geology at RMIT Aprill18 MrDanMclInnes Pond life. May 16 Members’ Night. Viewing slides in the Microscopical Collection showing slides of all subjects of interest to microscopists and the skills used in mounting various objects. June 20 Dan McInnes Protozoa. | July18 Russell Ward Plankton. Aug.15 Mr Ray Power Polarised light. Sept. 19 Members to prepare and exhibit a Pollen slide. Oct.17 M/s Christine Scanning Electron Microscope. Ashburner Nov. 21 Mr David Mellor Leica Technical Consultant. Jan. 16 Members’ Night. Feb.20 MrDanMclInnes Fresh water microscopy. March 20 Mr Urwin Bates Modulation Contrast & Mr John Dawes Phase Contrast. Donations Miss Mary Doery made a personal gift of her old microscope she used as a student at Melbourne University. Library Acquisitions Superb photograph taken by Mr G. O’Loughlin from slide W328 in the Microscopical Collection. (Composition of 1000 pieces of butterfly scales of various colours.) Inventory As at May 1990, Mr McInnes had catalogued eight thousand slides in the Microscopical Collection and compiled a Catalogue (5 pages) of all the books on Microscopy in the Microscopical library. Mr Dan McInnes is to be congratulated on his contribution in the Victorian Naturalist, Volume 107 (2) April 1990, pp 58-64, on Pond Life. The group is under the capable leadership of Mr Urwin Bates. Elsie C. Graham (Hon. Sec.) Microscopical Group, FNCV 15/5/1991. Vol. 109 (1) 1992 27 Reports Annual Report of the Botany Group of the F.N.C.V. 1990 Members and friends who come to the monthly meetings and take part in the monthly excursions have again enjoyed a very interesting and varied year. We are sorry that more members of the FNCV in general do not take part in these activities — they are not planned only for experts, but if you read through the topics covered you will see that they appeal to anyone with an interest in natural history - and the excursions are always an excuse to enjoy a day in the bush with people of similar interests. The topics for the 1990 meetings were:- Feb. Helen Aston March David Albrecht April Hilary Weatherhead and members May Dr Ross Field June Dr Patrick McCarthy July Arthur Thies Aug. Margaret Corrick Sept. Dr David Cameron Oct. Hilary Weatherhead Nov. Mary Doery Dec. Aquatic Plants in Australia — their morphology, taxonomy, distribution and impact on the environment. Flora of Borneo and North Sumatra. Autumn flowers and fruits, The biological control of weeds. Lichens. Mosses and Liverworts. From Dalhousie Springs to Western Queensland. Victoria’s rainforests, Oranges and Boronias: the family Rutaceae. Botanical ramblings in France. A.G.M. and Members’ Night. The attendance at these meetings ranged from 14 to 41 (this includes 21 visitors) with an average of 22. Excursions were:— leader Feb. Helen Aston March Hilary Weatherhead April Stephanie Rennick May Tom May June Dr Patrick McCarthy July Arthur Thies Aug, Staff member Sept, Gary and Susan Clark and John Eichler Oct. Sat. Neville Scarlet (weekend) 28 subject location Aquatic plants Willsmere, Banyule, Warringal. Mountain fruits/trees The vegetation Mt Donna Buang. Zones of the Hastings Shire coast. Fungi FNCV Kinglake property. Lichens Sandy Bay area of Jumping Creek Reserve, Warrandyte. Mosses and Sassafras Ck, Kallista. liverworts Tour Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, Plants Pyrete Range. Rare grasslands Mooramonf, Skipton. plants re- establishment program Victorian Nat. Reports Oct. Sun. E. and L. Courtney Tour with FNCV Cosstick Reserve and Gary Cheers Maryborough FNC and Paddy’s Range State Park. Nov. Cecily Falkingham Small reserves with a.m. Hotchens Ridge problems Flora Reserve, Croydon North. p.m. Cheong Wild Flower Sanctuary, East Ringwood. Numbers attending varied from 8 to 23, with the average being 15 (excluding the weekend.) We are sad to have to report the death, on October 13, 1990 of one of our most regular attenders, Miss Laura White. She was 95. We all appreciated her keen mind, still keeping up with the many name changes in botany in recent years, and her vast knowledge of the plants of Victoria. She was at the monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 11, full of her usual enthusiasm, and died suddenly two days later. Win Bennet (Hon. Sec.) Botany Group, FNCV 17/2/1991 Obituary Mr Clifford Nance An Old Microscopist Passes On. Clifford Alfred Nance died on the 17th March 1991 at the age of 92. He joined the Microscopical Society of Victoria in October 1920 at the age of 22 and retained his love of microscopy right through his life. Although his greatest love was botany, Cliff was one of the older generation of naturalists who had a very wide range of scientific knowledge. He was able to combine his knowledge of botany and chemistry to make botanical slides which were works of art. Many of these have been given to the FNCV for future generations to see. His skill in miniature engineering enabled him to make microscopical accessories which he generously shared with others. Cliff will always be remembered for his quiet gentlemanly manner and for his willingness to share his great knowledge with others. Note:- The Microscopical Society of Victoria was incorporated into the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria on the 7th June 1954 and 44 members of the Society were elected as members of the FNCV. On 15th June 1954 these members formed The Microscopical Group of the FNCV. Mark Genery Vol. 109 (1) 1992 29 Drawing on Nature Images and Specimens of Natural History from the Collection of the Museum of Victoria Geelong ArpGalleryss 2Acak: Ales. cee ete 7 March ~ 12 April 1992 BenaliatAttiGallerve 8 2 ey peers wee ute 18 April - 17 May 1992 Misevtnr om ictonan queen ay aki ed oe. eee 25 May - 25 June 1992 This exhibition opens at the Geelong Art Gallery on Friday 6 March at 5.30 p.m. The exhibition curator, Paul Fox, has drawn upon the rich heritage of scientific prints, drawings, watercolours and specimens from the Museum of Victoria’s collection to explore the different ways nature has been represented by artists and scientists. It is the first time many of the exhibits have been displayed. There are more than seventy exhibits including work of the American wildlife artist J.J. Audabon; watercolours of insects by A. Bartholomew; N. Cayley’s bird paintings; work of taxidermist and naturalist A. Coles and a specimen of the great Murray Cod which weighed 46.8 kilograms when captured in 1983. Every Naturalist and nature lover will find this an enjoyable exhibition that should not be missed. Entry fees to the Geelong and Benalla Art Galleries are $1 for adults and 50 cents for concession holders. Entry to the Museum of Victoria is $4 for adults and $2 for concession holders and children. 1991/92 Victorian Roadsides Environment Awards The Victorian Roadsides Conservation Committee is pleased to announce another round of the Victorian Roadsides Environment Awards. These awards are to promote conservation management of linear reserves Awards are given for outstanding examples of environmental activities or treatments on road and rail reserves which duly consider the natural, historic or landscape values Awards are available in five categories: “Natural Environment. Historic/Cultural. Environmental Care in Works. Promotion and Publications. Schools and Education. * * * * Any organisation, community group, authority or individual is eligible to enter. Further information and application forms are available from: Anne Dennis Executive Officer R.C.C. Inc, P.O. Box 41 East Melbourne 3002. Ph, (03) 412 4653. Closing date for applications is 30 April, 1992. Victorian Nat. 30 New members Metropolitan Mr N. Brown, Armadale Mr T. W. Roxburgh, East Malvern Mr B. Calvert, McKinnon Ms K. Williams, Essendon Ms V. Craigie, Northcote MrS. Spillard, Caulfield North Ms D. M. D’Costa, Mt Waverley Ms J. Davis, Montmorency Ms C. Harvey, Kew Mr P. Hanson, East Malvern Ms S. Hurwitz, Brunswick Ms L. Frigo, Altona Ms J. Leveson, Essendon Ms K. Wilson, Oak Park Mrs O. Ouranidis, Bulleen The Season’s Greetings were beautifully expressed by Jean Galbraith Joint Metropolitan Mr K. Lovegrove, Mrs N. Lovegrove, Malvern Ms J. Broadberry, Ms K. James, Templestowe R. Whittle, Ms V. Legg, Heidelberg Heights Mr J. Delpratt, Ms L. Heath, Richmond Mr G. Radson, Mrs V. Radson, Bentleigh Ms B. Saulenier, Ms A. Vendyoux, Heathmont Ms M. Arundel, Mr P. Tucker, South Yarra Country Mr A. Pollock, Orbost Mr J. Fisher, Portland Mr C. Trainer, Maryborough Honorary Membership, 1992 The following members have qualified for Honorary Membership. They all joined in 1952. Miss T. Coto, Heidelberg Mrs C. Mcqueen, Wentworth Falls, NSW Mr K. Parkin, Ivanhoe Mrs K. Parkin, Ivanhoe in her card to the FNCV. Journey’s End The road runs on, and it well may be There are hills to climb, and long vales between May your hearts be strong and your glad eyes see The mountain’s vista, the valley’s green. And if the levels are dry and long May you still have flowers, and a thrush’s song That, content at last, at the journey’s end, You may look back smiling “The hills were steep But how fair the view!” I would not amend The path I had. Though the vales were deep I found wisdom there, and a steadfast friend And life’s chiefest joy at the journey’s end. ~~ Field Naturalists Club of Victoria In which is incorporated the Microscopical Society of Victoria Established 1880 Registered Office: FNCV, c/- National Herbarium, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, 3141 (650 8661). OBJECTS: To stimulate interest in natural history and to preserve and protect Australian fauna and flora. Members include beginners as well as experienced naturalists. Patron His Excellency, The Rev Dr John Davis McCaughey, The Governor of Victoria. Key Office-Bearers December 1991 President: Dr. ARTHUR FARNWORTH, 47 The Boulevarde, Doncaster 3108 (848 2229). Hon. Secretary: Mr. ED GREY, C/- National Herbarium, Birdwood Ave. (650 8661/435 9019 A.H.). Hon. Treasurer: Mr. BRUCE ABBOTT, 3 Chatham St, Flemington, 3031 (376 4668 A.H.). Subscription-Secretary. FNCV, c/- National Herbarium, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, 3141 (650 8661). Editor; ROBYN WATSON, VCAH Burnley, Burnley Gardens, Swan St, Richmond, 3121 (B.H. 810 8858, A.H. 419 3532). Librarian: Mrs. SHEILA HOUGHTON, FNCYV, c/- National Herbarium, Birdwood Avenue, South farra, 3141. Excursion Secretary; DOROTHY MAHLER (850 9379 A.H.). Conservation Co-ordinator: Mr. JULIAN GRUSOVIN, c/- National Herbarium, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, 3141. Sales Officer (Victorian Naturalist only): Mr. D.E. McINNES, 129 Waverley Road, East Malvern, 3145 (571 2427), Publicity Officer: Miss MARGARET POTTER, 1/249 Highfield Road, Burwood, 3125 (889 2779). Book Sales Officer: Mr. ALAN PARKIN, FNCY, c/- National Herbarium, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, 3141 (850 2617 A.H.). Programme Secretary: Dr. NOEL SCHLEIGER, | Astley St, Montmorency, 3094 (435 8408). Group Secretaries Botany: Mrs. WIN BENNET, 22 Echuca Road, Greensborough, 3088 (435 1921). Geology: Mr, GRAEME LOVE (282 5187). Fauna Survey; Ms FELICITY GARDE, 30 Oakhill Road, Mt. Waverley, 3149 (808 2625). Microscopical: Mrs. ELSIE GRAHAM, 147 Broadway, Reservoir, 3073 (469 2509). MEMBERSHIP Membership of the EN.C.V. is open to any person interested in natural history. The Victorian Naturalist is distributed free to all members, the club’s reference and lending library is available and other activities are indicated in reports set out in the several preceding pages of this magazine. Membership rates 1992 Metropolitan a Joint Metropolitan, - Country/Interstate members. Club subscription ... , , Libraries within Australia, , Overseas ; : Phe Crome Victorian Naturalist Volume 109 (2) 1992 April Published by The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria since 1884 MUSEUM OF VICTORIA TDN | May Sat 2 - Sun 3 Sun 3 Tues 5 Wed 6 Sat 9 Mon 11 Thurs 14 Wed 20 Sat 23 Sat 23 - Sun 24 Sat 30 June Tues 2 Wed 3 Sat 6 - Mon 8 Sun 7 Thurs 11 Sun 14 Wed 17 Sat 20 Sat 27 FNCV Calendar of Activities Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Wilsons Promontory (post-fire ecology study). Contact Anne Casey, 380 8290. General Group Excursion. Tootgarook Wetlands. Inspection of insect and fossil collection Stewart property. Contact Dorothy Mahler, 850 9379 or 435 8408. Fauna Survey Group Meeting - Studies on the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Virus as a means of Biological Control of Rabbits: Harvey Westbury. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Geology Group Meeting. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Contact Graeme Love, 282 5187. Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Leadbeaters Possum Survey. Contact Ray Gibson, 874 4408. General Meeting - Travels through the Eastern Simpson Desert and Georgina Channel Country. An illustrated talk by Helen Aston covering plants, birds and history. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Botany Group Meeting - Botanical slides of Tasmania. Trevor Blake. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Microscopy Group Meeting - Accessories for the Microscope - Old, New and Home-made. Astronomer’s Residence 8 p.m. Botany Group Excursion — Picnic Hill/Warburton. Leader Cecily Falkingham. Contact Joan Harry, 850 1347. Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Yellow-bellied Gliders Survey at Mt. Cole. Contact Laurie Conole, 481 4926. Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Leadbeaters Possum Survey. Contact Ray Gibson, 874 4408. Fauna survey Group Meeting - French Island: State or National Park? Its Conservation: Clive Gordes. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Geology Group Meeting. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. Contact Graeme Love, 282 5187. Fauna Survey Group field Survey. Wilsons Promontory (post-fire ecology study). Contact Anne Casey, 380 8290. General Group Excursion. Mt. Toole-be-Wong. Leader Rod Barker. Contact Dorothy Mahler, 850 9379 or 435 8408. Botany Group Meeting - Fungi. Tom May. Herbarium Hall 8 p.m. General Meeting. Herbarium Hall 2.p.m. Microscopy Group Meeting - Diatoms: A display of type specimens of various species and slides from fossil areas. Astronomer’s Residence 8 p.m. Fauna Survey Group Field Survey. Leadbeaters Possum Survey. Contact Ray Gibson, 874 4408. Botany Group Excursion - Fungi. Leader Tom May. Contact Joan Harry, 850 1347. The Victorian Naturalist is the bi-monthly publication of The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. _ Conservation Issues Notices ANHM Research Report Contributions | Naturalist Notes ISSN 0042-5184 The Victorian Index to Volume 108, 1991 in the centre of this issue IMEITIG os TVIFODTIGEN an teres dee ott e Oi en ben te reac eis tev on le Cover) Photograph’ CompettttOniag. .:ss:se caceessbs cxsescip eos eat ENGCV Members Insurance! Covet... ss...c0cssterrtevarteu eet eare ANIME Rese Canton a2. cy notre iki. fetter neat, teas on Vertebrate Fauna of Paddys Ranges State Park, PV IOEO TE ANLON A vere sav aceeie te ted be oases ve oa peat EnE oie pets peers ‘Terrestrial Platworms: Dy 5, WaInSOT a. fice open ohh eae te First Record of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Macropus giganteus, at Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, North- western Victoria, by G. Coulson and S. Troy.........+++++++ Notes from the National Herbarium of Victoria. Authorities in Plant Nomenclature, by I. Clarke ............ Effects of Slashing and Burning on Orchids in French Island State Park, by G. and F. Gordes...........0.0.00ee0000 Yarra Pigmy Perch (Edelia obscura) in the Fitzroy River, by Al Donnellysand GC. Gridvesy asec ci 4 ‘ * ¥ Parkvi le, Vie 52 : 130 most common inland of windy, southwest oriented coastlines, such as the west coast of Victoria or the coastline between Cape Liptrap and Cape Woolami in western Gippsland (Fig. 1). However some airborne salt damage is common close to most ocean coasts, large bays and even salt lakes, My research in the Wonthaggi region has shown that the most susceptible localities are on south or west facing hillsides, within 30 km of the coast, particularly in relatively treeless rural areas. Elevated sites in hilly regions are particularly vulnerable because wind velocities increase towards the top of hills, resulting in the vegetation intercepting greater quantities of sea-salt. In these exposed locations the vegetation will often die back from the seaward edge, taking on some of the structural characteristes of salt-pruned coastal vegetation. Under natual conditions, prior to forest clearing, salt-laden winds were carried over the top of the forest since vegetation in near-coastal regions naturally develops a streamlined profile. However, clearing for argiculture has resulted in a pastoral landscape dotted with isolated trees and remnant forest patches. Today this remnant vegelation experiences a very different environment to the one which existed prior Fig. I. The stippled zones indicate regions where airborne salt induced dieback is common. Victorian Nat. Contributions to clearing. These remnants are often exposed to the full force of salt-laden winds, where previously they would have been part of a forest community protected from wind. Identifying dieback caused by airborne sea-salt Dieback from sea-salt generally appears as dead branches on one side of a tree or, in more severe situations, as dead trees on the seaward side of a forest remnant (Fig. 2). Epicormic shoots (produced from dormant buds beneath bark) are common and they may be killed off on the seaward side so that they too appear asymmetrical. The canopy of remnant stands may show distinctive changes, Tall canopies which are grazed or have little understorey so that wind can readily penetrate beneath the canopy, will become layered and will progressively die back (Fig. 3). Remnants which have a substantial understorey will also die back to some extent on the seaward side, but the understorey forces the wind over the top of the remnant and a stable, aerodynamic profile is formed (Fig. 3). - Salt damage to foliage is quite characteristic. Young foliage is most susceptible to salt entry and is therefore the best place to look. The tip and often also margins of a salt-damaged leaf will be necrotic, generally within a day or two of a strong southwest wind. New epicormic Fig. 2, Dicback of the seaward edge of an exposed remnant eucalypt forest in west Gippsland, 15 km from the coast. Vol. 109 (4) 1992 shoots are particularly vulnerable due to their exposed location on the trunk, and they may be reduced to almost leafless twigs within a few days of a strong sea wind. Some of the most salt sensitive species, and therefore good indicators or airborne sea-salt, are introduced plants such as hawthorn, (Crataegus monogyna), wild plum (Prunus domestica) and apples (Malus spp.) — all common weeds of rural roadsides in southern Victoria. Eucalypts are also fairly sensitive, however, the young foliage is readily damaged by strong winds alone, which also cause tip death, and this can be confused with salt damage. The best indicators of salt damage are plants with small leaves which are not readily wind damaged. Death of leaf or shoot tips following strong sea-winds is a good indicator of sea-salt damage. Plant shape is also a good indicator of the influence of sea winds. Strongly asymmetrical shrubs and trees which are oriented in the direction of the prevailing sea wind are strong evidence of sea salt. Roadside vegetation is useful for this purpose since it is quickly and easily surveyed. Managing remnants exposed to sea winds Edges of forests are typically lighter, warmer, windier and have lower humidity than the interior of the forest (Williams- Linera 1990). They may also receive nutrient and water inputs from the surrounding landscape. Their biota is typically different, with a greater diversity of organisms sharing the edge environment. Edges are also often weedier than interiors since they are readily accessible to propagules dispersing from surrounding communities. The ratio of edge to interior in a remnant is related to the shape of the remnant, with linear remnants or corridors typically being all edge (Laurance and Yensen 1991). The amount of wind penetration into the edge will determine the extent of damage from airborne salt. Linear 131 Contributions yo 3 ¥ ‘ Vig. 3. Characteristic forest structures resulting from exposure to airborne sea-salt. (top) Tall forests with little understorey or frequently grazed forest. (bottom) Forests with substantial understorey. remnants suffering from sea-wind damage will show the same symptoms as any other remnant, but the extent of the damage may be far greater due to their narrowness, The orientation of the remnant is particularly important, Remnants which expose a substantial amount of edge squarely to the prevailing sea wind are most vulnerable. A management strategy should be targeted towards encouraging regeneration of understorey and canopy species on the seaward side. A dense growth of vegetation will force salt-laden wind over the top of the canopy, protecting the remnant from progressive decline. Disturbances, such as grazing, should be minimised on the seaward edge to encourage regeneration, Likewise problems may arise in roadside remnants with power-lines on the seaward edge, since regular canopy pruning allows more wind into the canopy and prevents the closure process which would otherwise naturally occur. Managing a remnant to prevent the penetration of sea-winds is very compatible with other conservation objectives. A dense understorey provides habitat for mammals and birds, at the same time it may act as a barrier for airborne weed propagules, reducing the weediness of the remnant. One of the aims of corridor manage- 132 ment should be to encourage the development of an interior environment which is suitable for the passage and possibly residence of interior species. Interior species, in contrast to edge species, require the more stable environment of the interior of a patch for habitat. Managing a linear remnant for reduced wind penetration is very compatible with encouraging the development of an interior environment. New plantings in near-coastal regions Anyone contemplating revegetation within 30 km of a windy ocean coast should consider the influence that sea-salt will have on the plants. Figure 4 shows a suggested plants design for salt-exposed localities. Dense-growing, moderately salt- tolerant shrubs should be planted on the seaward edge. These should be followed by taller, moderately salt tolerant species and finally by tall species such as eucalypts. The salt-tolerant species on the seaward edge provide shelter for the taller-growing, more salt sensitive species, allowing a reasonably tall belt of vegetation and therefore better wind protection to leeward. This approach can be used for narrow windbreaks, broadscale plantings or to seal up the edge of a remnant exposed to sea-winds. Victorian Nat. Contributions Wind Fig. 4. Suggested planting design for exposed localities. Deciding if a remnant is vulnerable to sea- wind damage A predominance of dying branches or trees on the seaward edge of a remnant is a strong clue that a directional factor such as airborne salt is involved. The following criteria increase the likelihood that airborne salt is responsible for the dieback. For areas other than southern Australia the compass bearings should be changed to that of the prevailing sea wind and the stated distances may not be relevant. The points are listed in decreasing order of importance. * The edge of the remnant is oriented parallel to a windy, southwest facing coast. the problem. recruitment into wild populations. a Vol. 109 (4) 1992 ¢ There is no sheltering vegetation to windward, ® Isolated trees and shrubs on roadsides are strongly asymmetrical and orientated towards the southwest. ¢ The remnant is on a seaward facing hill within 25 km of a windy ocean coast or on flat land within 15 km of a windy ocean coast. ¢ The canopy trees are tall with a large amount of free space beneath their crowns. * The remnant is grazed or mown. References Hingston, F.J, and Galbraith, JH. (1990). Salt impaction at near-coastal locations and possible effects on grapevines in southwest of Western Australia. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 32: 199-212. Hutton, JT. and Leslie, T.J. (1958). Accession of non- nitrogenous ions dissolved in rainwater to soils in Victoria. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 9: 492-507. Laurance, W.F. and Yensen, E. (1991). Predicting the impacts of edge effects in fragmented habitats. Biological Conservation 55: 77-92. Moss, A.E. (1940). Effect on trees of wind-driven salt water, Journal of Forestry 38: 421-5, Williams-Linera, G. (1990). Vegetation structure and environmental conditions of forest edges in Panama. Journal of Ecology 78: 356-73, Cats and Wildlife in Victoria: A New Approach Uncontrolled cat populations are continuing to devastate wildlife in Victoria. Many species face local extinction or major reductions in numbers due to cat predation or from diseases spread by cats. DCE’s ‘Protect your Cat, Protect your Wildlife’ education campaign is based on a new strategic approach to Complementing a Responsible Pet Ownership campaign being implemented by the Department of Food and Agriculture, the campaign addresses the basic welfare of both cats and wildlife. Community awareness of the impact of pet cats on wildlife is an essential precursor to community support for compulsory identification, registration and desexing. A Statewide requirement for these factors will effectively separate the pet and feral (or stray) population and reduce 133 Contributions What Happens Next — Road Side Conservation M.R. Gilbert* Abstract Phe report demonstrates a practical application of roadside vegetation rh in a developing outer metropolitan municipality. Having assigned conservation values to all road reserves, roadside conservation strategies were adopted and implemented in areas of fire prevention works, roadside vegetation regeneration, State Electricity Commission assets and road construction, Introduction Roadside Conservation - one wonders if after all the demands have been placed on a road reserve for the provision of services, whether it is possible to save any of the roadside vegetation. By the time the State Road Construction Authority’s Design Guidelines are complied with in respect to pavement width, shoulders and roadside drains; the Farmers cut down the trees along their fence line to prevent limbs falling on their fences; the State Electricity Commission cut the trees to code to protect the power lines; Telecom removed vegetation to trench in communieation cables; and the Fire Authority requests a bare earth policy from fence line to fence line for fire prevention, a roadside can be left barren, The destruction of roadside vegetation in the provision of services can be devestating, however, all is not lost, as it is possible to co-ordinate and accommodate the wide range of demands on a road reserve and still preserve the natural beauty and often unique species of Vegetation along the roadside. Gisborne Shire Gisborne Shire is 50 kilometres north west of Melbourne encompassing part of the Macedon Ranges and includes the township of Mt Macedon, Macedon, New Gisborne and Gisborne. The area has a constant growth rate of six percent, with Seventy-five percent of the working population commuting outside the Shire. 4s ve ; Shire Engineer/ Director of Engineering Services, Shite of Gisborne, Victoria 134 The Macedon Ranges form an important part of the natural beauty of the area with most road reserves being heavily timbered. In 1983 the Ash Wednesday bush fires devastated two-thirds of the area of the Shire and destroyed over 500 houses, commercial, and public buildings. In the aftermath there was concern within the community over such matters of effective roadside fire hazard control, the re- establishment of roadside vegetation and the need to ensure the natural beauty of the area was restored. Roadside conseryation assessments In October 1984, a roadside evaluation survey was carried out to determine a conservation rating for the roadside vegetation for most roads within the Shire. The evaluation technique and guidelines were prepared by personnel from the Arthur Rylah Institute (Department of Conservation and Environment) and the Ministry of Planning, who used local members of the Macedon Ranges Conservation Society to carry out the physical assessment of each road, From the survey cach road assessed was assigned a conservation value of either low, medium or high and these were colour coded onto a large scale map of the Shire for easy reference, What next — implementation The establishment of roadside conservation values is the first step in enue an overall roadside management plan, In the Gisborne Shire the results of the Victorian Nat. Contributions assessments have been used in implementing roadside conservation strategies in four main areas: (a) Fire Prevention Works (b) Roadside Vegetation Regeneration Control (c) State Electricity Commission assets (d) Road Construction Fire prevention Council, through its Fire Prevention Committee, comprising members of all local Fire Brigades, Country Fire Authority, Department of Conservation and Environment, Councillors and Council Officers had already drawn up a ‘Fire Prevention Plan’ for the Shire which categorised roads into Strategic and Tactical fire breaks with recommendations for degrees of roadside clearing to achieve the desired ‘Fire Safe’ environment. The Fire Prevention Plan was overlayed with the Conservation Assessment Plan and where conflict occurred between listed fire prevention works and conservation values, generally where extensive roadside clearing was recommended on a roadside with a high conservation value, onsite meetings were held to determine appropriate treatment to satisfy both needs. Through an appreciation of the outcomes desired by all parties, satisfactory solutions were obtained, The following illustrates some of the treatments agreed to and which have now been implemented in the Gisborne Shire. Block treatment - Mt Macedon Road Mt Macedon Road is a Main Road connecting the Calder Highway to the townships of Macedon and Mt Macedon. The road has been assigned a High Conservation Value rating and is also classified as a Strategic Fire Break. Much of the roadside vegetation was burnt in the 1983 fires requiring a large number of mature trees to be removed. The fire also initiated vigorous regeneration regrowth. During the conservation assessment survey localized areas of rare native orchids were Vol. 109 (4) 1992 also identified. The potential conflict of extensive roadside clearing to achieve the required Strategic Fire Break, and the need to retain the natural road side beauty, especially as the road is the gateway to Mt Macedon, was resolved by preserving ‘blocks’ of undisturbed vegetation and native orchids. The ‘block’ areas were physically roped off by Shire Staff in consultation with members of the local Fire Brigade and Macedon Ranges Conservation Society. The remaining areas were then slashed in accordance with the Fire Prevention Plan. The result has been the retention of an attractive roadside landscape, the preservation of the orchids and satisfactory fire prevention works to prevent a fire from spreading along the roadway (Fig. 1). — Roped off areas of regenerated regrowth and native orchids tie St AS fat Fig. 1. ‘Block’ Treatment Strip clearing - along fence lines A second method of achieving a suitable fire break and still retain the important visual roadscape was to combine the fire break with the need for clearing along an S.E.C. power line located along one of the fencelines of the road reserve. The area from the fenceline to the code distance from the powerlines towards the road pavement was cleared off all trees and slashed. This left substantial mature trees still remaining between the cleared area and the road itself (Fig. 2). Litter fuel reduction Many roads within the Shire have large well established trees on the roadsides with dense undergrowth. The conservation assessment of these roads is weighted high 135 Contributions é YA y_clearange —, Serie SNe Code + i Cleared area } ; , Fig. 2. ‘Strip’ Clearing due to the large trees. To maintain the visual atractiveness of the large trees and to maintain adequate fire prevention standards, the undergrowth is removed by slashing using a telescopic mower and in some areas by hand slashing, In some instances residents whose properties abut these roads do the work. Roadside vegetation regeneration control The need to control the vigorous regrowth on roadsides after the 1983 bush fires Was necessary to ensure the re- establishment of an attractive roadside landscape and meet the requirements of other bodies, such as the Fire Prevention Committee. This has been achieved by adopting the ‘block’ and ‘strip’ methods as described earlier, State Electricity Commission assets A Tree Clearing Co-Ordination Committee was established for the Shire of Gisborne in 1976, The Committee with representatives from the State Electricity Commission, Shire, Department of Conservation and Environment, Macedon Ranges Conservation Society and other interested parties, was established to control and co-ordinate the tree trimming Practices of the State Electricity Commission. The Committee members would inspect all powerlines prior to the State Electricity Commission tree cutting crews commencing works. The members would walk along the route of the S.E.C, conductors and physically mark all trees 136 to indicate whether they should be totally removed, lightly trimmed or limbs removed. This achieved a desired standard which meant the trees were not mutilated, but were trimmed asethetically and the State Electricity Commission achieved their desired code clearance. With this background of co-operation between the State Electricity Commission and Council, other works have been initiated to preserve the landscape value of road sides. These have included: * Undergrounding State Electricity Commission assets ® Relocation of power lines * Combined State Electricity Commission/Fire Prevention clearing ¢ Aerial Bundled Cable Undergrounding State Commission assets Preservation of existing trees After the 1983 bush fires, there were few roadsides remaining on Mt Macedon which retained their former canopy of trees. Only two such areas were untouched by the fire. Both these sections of road contained State Electricity Commission power lines which, if cut to code, would require the removal of the only remaining green trees on Mt Macedon and destroy the canopy effect over the roadway. The two roads were part of the Mt Macedon Road and Brougham Road. Mt Macedon Road - The funding of undergrounding 1.3 kilometres of high voltage and low voltage powerlines was jointly provided by the Council and the State Electricity Commission through monies made available from special funds for the relocation and undergrounding of powerlines. The Gisborne Council was the first to take up these funds. The Council carried out the trenching works and paid a $30,000 cash contribution with the State Electricity Commission paying the balance. The end result is the retention of a magnificent avenue of trees, which if not protected by undergrounding would have Electricity Victorian Nat. Contributions Sparse f BR L wie 2: pare | Vegetation 2 - Attractive due fo SEC. vegetation ~ |code clearance Fig, 3. been removed and a barren landscape left as illustrated in Fig. 3. Brougham Road — The funding for the undergrounding of this short section of powerline was provided by the local residents and from the State Electricity Commission’s Undergrounding Special Funds on a 2 for 1 basis. The locals contributed $4,500 and the State Electricity Commission $9,000. The raising of the funds and applications of the State Electricity Commission Undergrounding Committee was organised by the Shire. The desired result was obtained with a complete canopy of trees remaining over the road. Both sides of tae road would have been cleared if cut to the State Electricity Commission code. Undergrounding to aid replanting Devonshire Lane on Mt Macedon was renowned for its magnificent avenue of Mountain Ash prior to the 1983 fires. The trees were burnt in the fire and required removal. State Electricity Commission overhead lines ran the full length of the south side of the road. The local residents and Council were keen to re-establish the lane, however, with the State Electricity Commission’s code of tree cutting it was not possible to re-establish Mountain Ash. The residents under the co-ordination of the Council raised $16,000 local contribution and attracted a 2 to | grant from the State Electricity Commission’s Undergrounding Funds. The powerlines have now been installed underground and the naturally regenerated Mountain Ash are being allowed to grow Vol. 109 (4) 1992 thus re-establishing the magnificence of the lane way. Had the over head lines been retained the regenerating Mountain Ash would have had to be removed. Relocation of Power Lines In many instances the State Electricity Commission, through the recommend- ations of the Tree Clearing Co-Ordination Committee, earlier described, have relocated powerlines to preserve either a particular species of tree or stand of trees. This has been achieved through three different practices (Fig. 4): (a) Zig zagging powerlines from one side of the road reserve to the other and back again; (b) Using one side offset crossheads on the power poles instead of the standard “T” construction allowing poles to be located closer to trees than normal; and, (c) Staggering the standard offset of the powerlines but still remaining on the same side of the road reserve. Aaa + 6 i SEG ce ‘ 5 — fi tr Be Offset arms! Piree of \ / significant value \ TROAD PAVEMENT oe a Fal ag Ls ; Sry rae eee : ey road pe et : - Fig. 4. Combined State Electricity Commission/Fire Prevention assets Coffey Road, Bullengarook, to the west of the Shire passes through a heavily timbered area and is designated as a Strategic Fire Break Road and also attracted a high conservation value. State Electricity Commission power lines travel the length of the road on the west side. To achieve the desired roadside clearances for both the State Electricity Commission and Fire Prevention Committee, it was agreed to completely clear fell all timber between 137 Contributions the road seal and the fence line along the western side of the road, and leave untouched the vegetation on the eastern side. The State Electricity Commission felled and cleaned up the trees, ‘munched’ the stumps to ground level and the Shire has undertaken to annually slash the area. Although the clearing was in excess of the State Electricity Commission’s code requirements, the treatment has achieved an effective fire break and with the timber preserved on the eastern side of the road has retained a pleasant roadscape (Fig. 5). GS AW “KS ~__ Forested Ne 3 SEC o Cleared from fence to road Fig. 5, Aerial Bundled Cable - (ABC Cable) Aerial Bundled Cable, comprising of heavily insulated conductors twisted together to form a single cable, has recently been introduced into Victoria by the State Electricity Commission. The ABC Cable reduces the amount of the tree clearing to meet code distances because the ABC Cable is a single strand instead of the normal three strands spread on a cross arm, and because the ABC Cable is heavily insulated allowing branch overhang and reduced clearance distances from the conductor itself, Low Voltage ABC Cable is now in use throughout the Shire and its introduction has saved the need for heavy pruning of trees where it had been installed. An example is Alton Road, Mt Macedon, Where the road reserve has a canopy of Oak Trees meeting across the pavement. Use of standard conductors would have destroyed the canopy, however, the use of ABC required only a “hole” around the 138 cable to be cut preserving the effect of the trees. High Voltage ABC Cable up to 22 KV is only in the experimental stage and it is expected its use will be introduced in the near future. The use of ABC Cable for both low and high voltage distribution is an important advancement in the protection of the roadscapes (Fig. 6). Clearance space Standard SEC Labling ABC Cable Fig. 6. Road construction The Gisborne Shire has for a number of years recognised the importance of preserving the roadside landscape. With increasing urbanisation, and the area being a very popular ‘day tripper’ tourist attraction for people from metropolitan Melbourne, growth in vehicular traffic volumes has been rapid. This has applied pressure on Council to upgrade many roads, some from gravel to seal surface or widening existing narrow-scaled roads. To achieve the protection of the roadside vegetation, cater for the increased traffic volumes and to provide better road conditions expected by todays motorists, the Council adopted modified design Standards and construction techniques which were sympathetic to the environs and provided improved road surfaces. The modified design and construction techniques used included the following: (a) Reduced road design speed values; (b) Reduced vertical alignment to minimise cuts and fills which cause massive earth disturbance and tree removal; (c) Reduced horizontal alignment. Generally any new road works follow Victorian Nat. Contributions the existing road alignment to minimise disturbance to roadside vegetation; (d) Road pavements constructed without shoulders to minimise overall width of roadworks; (e) Roadside drains placed directly against the sealed road pavement; (f) Reduced clearance between the edge of pavement and existing trees. In many instances the road _ horizontal alignment “meanders” between trees which are left close to the pavement. In the Gisborne Shire a popular tourist route which passes through the Barringo Area in the foothills of Mt Macedon consisted of a network of gravel roads which carried high traffic volumes including tourist and commuter traffic. These roads were sealed using the modified design and construction techniques with the upgraded road generally following the existing alignments of the gravel roads, winding amongst the trees and following the natural contours of the land. Some problems have been experienced with the road side drain scouring the side of the pavement, and in some areas beaching has been carried out to prevent erosion. However, after one year, the growth of grasses in the drains has stablized the erosion and are now trouble free, The overall result has been very effective with a sealed road network free of maintenance and the retention of the natural roadside landscape. Of interest is the acceptance by the motorists of the lower standards of road geometry with traffic travelling at the appropriate speed and even though buses use the road network no accidents have been reported to date, yet as a gravel road network road accidents were frequent. Conclusion The Roadside Evaluation Assessment is the first step in formulating policies regarding the management of the roadsides. It is a mecessary tool in Vol. 109 (4) 1992 discussions with other bodies who are involved in the use of the roadsides, as it gives an important basis on which to encourage other parties to co-operate in the preservation of the roadside vegetation. It is possible to achieve co-operation between various authorities and local bodies to achieve the desired result of preservation of the roadside landscape. It is time consuming with many meetings, but the end result is rewarding and it has worked in the Gisborne Shire. Where to now? Roadside Management Plan With the practices developed in the Gisborne Shire to protect the roadside vegetation, the Victorian Roadside Conservation Committee chose to prepare a comprehensive ‘Gisborne Roadside Management Plan’ based on those experiences. Through an Advisory Committee comprising representatives of all road reserve users, the plan, now in draft form, addresses all issues involved in roadside management in the municipality and sets us specific policies and guidelines for each activity, culminating in detailed Management prescriptions for each individual road. Issues addressed include vegetation management, fauna, pest plants, utility services (S.E.C., Water Boards, Gas), road construction and maintenance, site rehabilitation, fire management, droving and many more. The Gisborne Council will be adopting the Management Plan as policy in September 1992, and the V.R.C.C. intend to circulate copies of the Plan to all Victorian Municipalities to use as a reference in the preparation of their own management plans. Roadside operators course - protecting native vegetation A two day workshop for field personnel working on road reserves has been put together by the V.R.C.C. 139 Contributions The course objectives are lo give an understanding to the field people of the need to protect the native vegetation, how to recognise indigenous vegetation, construction and maintenance techniques to avoid unnecessary damage to the vegetation and methods of enhancing the native vegetation by rehabilitation and planting techniques. The course was recently piloted with the Outdoor Staff of the Gisborne Shire with great success, and will now be fine tuned and packaged for marketing to all authorities who have field personnel working on a road reserve. S.E.C. audit and management plans Through the local Tree Clearing, Co- ordination Committee mentioned earlier in the article, a management plan detailing long term strategies to resolve the conflict of power lines and trees is being prepared for the Macedon and Mt Macedon area. Each power line, span by span is inspected by the Committee and the vegetation under and near the power lines assessed for the long term management to reduce the amount and frequency of tree clearing required by the S.E.C, each year. These solutions may include replacement of power line with ABC cable, relocating the power line to a less sensitive area of the road reserve, removing and under- grounding power lines, removing inappropriate vegetation from underneath the lines and replanting with more appropriate indigenous species and encouraging private landholders to plant more appropriate species of plants near power lines. In some areas, it is recognised a yearly trim will always be necessary as no other solution is available. Once the audit has been completed, a management plan will be prepared detailing the longer term strategies and this will be binding between the S.E.C. and Council. Action plans will then be developed to achieve the longer term aims. Already the S.E.C, have replaced much of the bare wire low voltage power lines with A.B.C, cable in some of the areas. It is the aim of the Tree Clearing Co- ordination Committee to ultimately use the Management Plan for application to the S.E.C. to have the Macedon/Mt Macedon area cleared as one of ‘Particular Significance” under the S.E.C. Act; thus achieving a permanent recognition of the importance of the natural vegetation of the area and having in place an enhanced chance of preserving it where the conflict with S.E.C. power lines exists. This paper was presented at the Local Government Engincerine Conference, Hobart, August 1991. The final section ‘Where to now’ has been written since: Low Cost Natural History Reading Back volumes of The Victorian Naturalist 7: Volumes 76 to 90 They contain 335 to 380 pages in 12 monthly parts Price $6.00 per volume : Order and then pick up at any General or Group meeting. Postage in Victoria (if required) One Volume $4.60, Two Volumes $4.80, Four Volumes $5.00 Orders to D.B, MeInnes, 129 Waverley Road a ast Malvern, 3145, Tel 571 2427, 140 Victorian Nat, Contributions Preservation of Camberwell’s Natural Heritage Colin Singleton* ‘The remnants of pre-European Camberwell are interesting for their rarity’. This statement from Volume 2 of the Camberwell Urban Conservation Study (p. 91) succinctly sums up the current status of Camberwell’s natural heritage; that there is very little evidence remaining of this city prior to urban development. The City of Camberwell is a definitive example of Australian suburban life, perhaps even being labelled a ‘classic suburb. Camberwell, like many other Melbourne suburbs, was first subdivided for farmland, with early purchases being made in the 1840's. Lot sizes from 10 to 200 acres were sold, with the smaller holdings being ideal for dairies and orchards, the larger for grazing land. It wasn't until the I880’s did much of Camberwell’s rural land attract suburban subdividers. The desired image of Camberwell during the 1880's was of an English countryside, of hedges -and flowering bushes. Landholders, wanting to cash in on the 1880's building boom, did their utmost to eliminate stands of native vegetation, when drawing up subdivision plans and clearing land in readiness for the numerous dwellings which would rapidly establish the character of the city as we know it today. Camberwell basically grew from the centre outwards, with villages springing up around transport nodes, firstly the railway routes in the 1880’s and the tram routes in the 1920's. The majority of Camberwell developed during the period between the wars, from 1918 to 1940’s. A number of popular house styles appeared, from the Californian Bungalow, English revival (perhaps with Tudor details), Mediterranean influence (commonly called “Spanish Mission”) through to the Modernist movement with its flat roofs and curved walls. * Urban Designer, City of Camberwell, Camberwell, 3124. Vol. 109 (4) 1992 It was during this period that vast areas of farm land were cleared for housing. New roads were built and old roads were widened, gullies were filled and creeks were barrelled, to utilise every available area of land for residential development. All these actions resulted in the loss of our natural environment. During the 1880's parliamentarians and local Councillors and residents alike saw a unique opportunity to enhance Melbourne’s fledgling rail system, by constructing an outer circle route from Oakleigh to North Melbourne. This route would pass through the cities of Malvern, Camberwell and Kew on its way to the City, Work began on the outer circle line in 1885 and it was opened in 189]. However the project was an abject failure and sections of the line were soon to be closed, Ihe section through Camberwell has remained in use, being electrified in 1924. The outer circle route through Camberwell passed through what was known as the ‘Ashburton Forest’, which, it was said, attracted day trippers from the city and suburbs. Local residents regularly fought to save parts of the forest as Camberwell’s development rapidly changed the face of the local environment. A plant list for the Ashburton Forest was complied in the 1930’s and information relating to this area was included in the publication “The Flora of Melbourne’. In the 1950’s very little remained of the forest apart from some ‘gnarled eucalypts in the yard of St Michael’s School Camberwell Urban Conservation Study, Vol. 2, p. 91, in Warner Avenue and a stand of River Red Gums along the outer circle rail line. Today these River Red Gums along the rail line perhaps provide the last remaining environs of pre-European Camberwell. 141 Contributions Council policy Camberwell Council has a strong commitment to preserve the city’s heritage. This not only includes its cultural and built heritage, but also its natural heritage. However, Camberwell does not have a great deal of its natural heritage left, due to the continuous suburbanisation of the city. Certain areas of Camberwell have been identified as containing remnant indigenous vegetation which botanists’ reports have shown to support a variety of indigenous plant species, some of which are rare in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, These areas which contain remnant indigenous vegetation, include the Alamein Rail line, Beckett Park, Balwyn, Gardiners Creek valley, Glen Iris, Koonung Reserve (formerly Koonung Creek valley) in North Balwyn and Belmont Park, Balwyn. Council is currently developing and implementing management plans for the preservation or re-establishment of the natural vegetation in these important areas. The site Along the southern section of the outer circle line over 100 different native species can be found. The most significant (or naturally intact) area along the line lies between Burwood Station and the overpass near Dion Street, Burwood. The land on which the remnant vegetation is contained iS a narrow reserve between the top of the railway cutting and the edge of Welfare Pde, a local road (Figs. 1 and 2). Volume 93 of The Victorian Naturalist (pp 180-181) included an article by T. B. Muir relating to remnant indigenous vegetation, in the area between Burwood and Alamein Stations. Also surveys undertaken by the Department of Conservation and Environment (formerly Department of C onservation, Forests and Lands), along Melbourne’s rail reserves, have ‘ identified this area to contain signif icant remnant indigenous vegetation, This particular reserve is characterised by an upper storey of River Red Gums 142 Fig. 1. City of Camberwell, Wellare Parade Indigenous Vegetation Reserve, Locality Plan. (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), which at one time covered much of this part of the city (Refer Fig. 3). These trees provide a canopy to a whole host of native wild flowers and grasses. Plant species such as the small Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea minor), Chocolate Lilies (Dichopogon strictus), Kangaroo Grass (Themeda_ triandra), Wallaby Grass (Danthonia spp), Pale Flax- lily (Dianella longifolia) and Bulbine Lily (Bulbine bulbosa) have been identified in the reserve, Fig. 3. Indigenous vegetation reserve, Welfare Parade, Camberwell. Victorian Nat. Contributions Mii 6f NATE MID oT) MUR ON Rad UNKA RAWAM RAKES: UNALOWAL SLASHED To A WH TOKE CANOPY OF Bie BD GMS a | | iT