The Australian Plants Society (Victoria) is dedicated to promoting, growing and the conservation of Australian native plants, in gardens, community areas and their original environments.
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From the APS Vic Facebook page
Summer Flowers! There are Australian plants flowering in every month of the year and January is no exception. They provide beauty and essential habiitat for birds, insects, mammals and reptiles all year round. ![]()
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Here is a small sample of the January flowers to be seen last week at the Royal Botanic Gardens – the Australian Garden at Cranbourne. Its a lovely place to visit and going with older relatives with mobility issues was not a problem as wheel chairs are free and the mini electric cart ride is a nice introduction. ![]()
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A couple of photos that need naming to species level. ![]()
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Cranbourne Friends Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Inc.![]()
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Ornduffia reniformis – Running Marsh Flower – is a water plant that can be used for home ponds or bogs. It is native to the Eastern States and South Australia. in the wild I've seen small patches – but none so large or beautiful as the planting in the Australian Garden at Cranbourne. Such massed flowering in late Spring and Summer is a fine thing. Its available at a number of indigenous nurseries in the Melbourne area.
Mistletoe – a valuable part of our ecosystem.Taking the myths out of mys(th)letoe #1 and #2 and #3![]()
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If you were caught stealing a kiss under the mistletoe this Christmas, I just hope it was a native mistletoe.![]()
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If you were in Australia, then hurray! Lucky you! It was a native mistletoe. ![]()
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FACT There are about 60 species of mistletoe in Australia and about 15 species in SA; all, yes all, are native. There is one myth blown up!![]()
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Our Australian mistletoes occur in many habitats – from desert to forest. ![]()
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Many Mistletoe species are a bit “hello sailor” – that is, they will grow on a wide range of species, both Eucalyptus, other trees and on shrubs. ![]()
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I have even seen an Lysiana (Harlequin Mistletoe) growing in an Oleander, for pete’s sake. ![]()
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In these mistletoe species, the leaves look the same in every host tree. There’s another myth blown out of the water – I mean tree. ![]()
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FACT Mistletoe species do not readily change their leaf or flower shape to more cleverly hide / mimic in their host’s canopy.![]()
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That being said, if a mistletoe species is found mostly on one genus of plants, grazing pressure by herbivores on the mistletoe leaves over millions of years may have influenced successful survival of leaf shapes that are similar to those of the host. ![]()
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FACT Mistletoe plants are not parasites. A mistletoe plant anchors itself (by a haustorium) to a host plant and uses it as a source of water and nutrients, rather than rooting in soil. However, it can make its own food (sugars), as do all plants with green leaves. They are technically hemi-parasitic or partial parasitic – they depend on getting water from the host.![]()
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Blam! Another myth bites the dust.![]()
MORE next week….![]()
Photo: Lysiana exocarpi in a Sheoak host
Several of our Australian Plants Society Grampians group members have been fighting to save their properties and the efforts of the CFA there have been magnificent. So far it seems no members have lost their houses but three homes have been lost in the Moyston area. Many gardens and property have been badly damaged. This comes after some 46 homes were lost in the February 2024 fires around Pomonal. ![]()
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We have word from Fiona Lucas that they were in the direct line of the fires and that their home was saved by the wonderful work of the CFA. John King’s property has also been affected, but his home is safe. So far the fires have bypassed Neil and Wendy Marriott in the Black Range.![]()
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Our thoughts are with all the people in the Grampians area and we hope that the threats have now eased for this year. Thanks to Fiona for these images.
Australian plants society discussion about the classification of Eucalyptus at the link.
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