ISSN 706/15 1 X DATE JUNE 1984.

"Regis te red by A u s t r a l i a Post - P u b l i c a t i o n Number NBH 380911

LEADER : P h y l l Brown, 254 Edgar S t r e e t , Conde l l Park 2200 SECRETARY : John Lee, 76 The Bulwark, C a s t l e c r a g . 2068. HON. TREASURER: Faye Low, 151 Raglan S t r e e t , Mosman. 2088. SPORE BANK: S y l v i a G a r l i c k , 3 valley vie^^ Cres. Engadine 2233

D e a r tlentbera - -st b i g o u t i n g f o r t h i s y e a r was a t r i p t o t h e Burrendong ~ r b o r e t u m . b he-fourteen members p r e s e n t - g o t t o work, i n t h e T r o p i c a l Shade Area, and trimmed t h e t r e e f e r n s and o t h e r ground f e r n s which had been bad ly a t t a c k e d by th r ip .There was a l o t of weeding t o be done, b u t many hands soon had t h e a r e a l o o k i n g n i c e and t i d y . Hazel and P e t e r A l t h o f e r were p leased w i th t h e r e s u l t , as wi th t h e i r work l o a d , t h e y were n o t a b l e t o do t h i s work.

I r e c e n t l y r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r from M r H rris, Chairman of t h e Burrendong Arboretum Assoc i a t i on , who i n ! ormed me, D r . Kne2n of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of New South Wales, who is do ing t h e p l ans , e s t ima ted t h e c o s t of t h e s t r u c t u r e f o r t h e /j x t e n s i o n t o t h e T r o p i c a l Shade Area would be between %25,000 an6 $30,000, A pr ice o f $11,400 h a s been quoted f o r t h e cables an8 f i t t i n g s ; D r . Kneen h a s e s t ima ted t h e c o s t of t h e concrete anchor blocks, r e in fo rcemen t and s t e e l anchor p l a t e s a t 98,600, and other c o s t s such as cyc lone n e t t i n g , f e n c i n g wire, board and lodging f o r v o l u n t e e r workers and i n c i d e n t a l expenses at 95,000 plus.There is a l r e a d y $5,000 odd i n hand f o r t he project and f f a f u r t h w r $10,000 can be r a i s e d t h e A s s o c i a t i o n probably would be able t o unde rwr i t e t h e remainder of t h e c o s t from its own funds.

M r Harris a l s o thanked t h e members of the Fern Study Group f o r t h e work done r e c e n t l y among t h e fe rns i n t h e existing Shade a r e a .

We were a l l ve ry shocked and saddened o h e a r of t h e d e a t h

w i t h t h e group. b of Gerry Parker as s h e and George had i n t e n d d *g be a t Burrendong

Gerry waB a founda t ion member and a Leader of the Fern Study G r ~ u ? . A l o t of members would have seen t h e e x c e l l e n t audio-vishaL work which s h e and George produced, on native ferns, f came t o have a tremendous L r @ s @ e c t - f o r Gerry, and felt I could cali on h e r f o r a s s i s t a n c e and good a d v i c e a t any time. I will have many happy memories o f her .

Recen t ly , a t t h e i n v i t a t i o n of Patricia and Don Mactavfsh,' I v i s i t e d Tamworth and showed s J i d e s of, and talked a b o a t ferne t o members of t h e Tamworth a r e a . A few nights later I had t h e p r i v i l e g e ~f b e i n g asked t o r e p e a t the performande far a class of h o r t i c u l t u r a l s t u d e n t s from t h e Technical Col l ege , It was great t o meet t h e l o c a l memPGeks and r e a l i s e t h e r e is such an i n t e r e s t i n n a t i v e f e rn s .

T h i s wae a l s o a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o v i s i t some of t h e f i n e c o l l e c t i o n s of members1 f e r n s .

A f i n e c o l l e c t i o n of p ressed f e r n f r o n d s was p re sen t ed by B i l l Hard in at t h e Tamworth g a t h e r i n g . These were mounted on l a r g e s h e e t s of t h i n ca rdboard and r e p r e s e n t e d a complete c o l l e c t i o n of n a t i v e f e r n e found i n t h e Nowendoc S t a t e F o r e s t , which is about halfway between Tamworth and Taree i n New South Wales. B i l l a l s o i n t e n d s t o photograph each f e r n and a t t a c h t h e photo t o t h e r e l e v a n t sheet of t h a t f rond p re s s ing .

I t h i n k we w i l l be h e a r i n g some more from t h i s group i n t i le f u t u r e .

A ve ry e n t h u s i a s t i c g roup of members from Newcastle a r e a g o t t o g e t h e r r e c e n t l y and made p l a n s f o r p e r i o d i c a l v i s i t s , a s a group, t o t h e homes of o t h e r members t o l o o k a t t h e i r f e r n s and t h e i r methods of growing f e r n s . The Group h a s a r r anged t o mount an e x h i b i t i o n of n a t i v e f e r n s a t t h e S o c i e t y f o r Growing A u s t r a l i a n Na t i ve P l a n t s 1 E x h i b i t i o n t o be h e l d a t t h e Co l l ege of Advanced Educa t ion , Rankin Dr ive on 15 th and 16 th September, 1984. Volun t ee r s w i l l be needed t o assist on t h e s e days . Good specimen f e r n s would be of a s s i s t a n c e f o r t h e d i s p l a y .

Members a t Newcastle a r e a s h o r t d i S t a n c e from t h e Newcast le S t a t e F o r e s t s , which a r e t o t h e west and s o u t h west of t h e c i t y . These fores t s have many s u b - t r o p i c a l r a i n f o r e s t g u l l i e s and gorges which are abundant w i t h ferns. There are many walking t r a c k s and p i c n i c a r e a s .

The November 1984 out lng for t h e Sydney Group w i l l be t o t h e Watagan State F o r e s t , on 10th and Iltb, We hope t o s ee all t h e Newcastle members on this v i s i t .

Addie Lee h a s been i n h o s p i t a l bu t I am pleased t o r e p o r t s h e is home a g a i n and w i th J o h n ' s t e n d e r l o v i n g c a r e is r e c o v e r i n g n i c e l y and s h e hopes t o be wi th u s on ou r n e x t ou t ing .

More news t o hand, Molly and B i l l Murray a r e i n t h e i r new home a t Ulong and a l l t h e r e c e n t r a i n f i l l e d t h e t a n k wi th l o v e l y f r e s h water . I On Sunday 29 th A p r i l , we s p e n t a most en joyab l e day a t t h e home of Judy i n d John Marley, where members enjoyed l o o k i n g through t h e l a r g e c o l l e c t i o n of f e r n s . There were some l o v e l y f e rn6 f o r sale. Thank you Judy anti John,

Irene Cullen, South Eas t Queensland Group a d v i s e s they are progressing and w i l l b e s t u d y i n g adiantums a t t h e i r nex t meeting. The Group is going t o p u t on a d i s p l a y of A u s t r a l i a n f e r n s a t t h e S. G. A . P. Queensland Region Wildflower S p e c t a c u l a r t o be . h e l d in September, 1984, Keel? up the good work, I r ene .

2.arbara S e t c h e l l brought a small g roup of people t o Sydney, r e c e n t l y , and found time t o c a l l f o r a l o o k a t our f e r n c o l l e c t i o n . Barbara h a s s i n c e informed me she now has a ve ry e n t h u s i a s t i c g roup a t Canberra , w i th two new members. Thank you Barbara .

I 1 ----------I------

RED CARPET; - - -1.- I L

We wish t o extend a w a r m welcome t o t h e fo l l owing new members-- . - - - - . - -

-lll-3--""l------L-l-

- - - -

DID YOU KNOW. i --- I

One teaspoon l y s o l , 2 cups of water mixed t o g e w e r , dab o r s p r a y around b o o t s t o s t o p l e a c h e s . I I

( " T H E BL4NKEr FERN'')

Recen t ly I r e c e i v e d an i n t d r e & t i n g l e t t e r from a young I f e r n e n t h u s i a s t from Western A u s t r a l i a , who as p a r t y t o s t u d i e s

f o r a Diploma of H o r t i c u l t u r e wro te t o me f o r i n f o r m a t i o n - conce rn ing a n unusua l f e r n found i n t h e wheat land a r e a o f

U n f o r t u n e a t e l y I t h i s s p e c i e s no r d i d I have a p l a n t had t o

r e c o v e r

r u t i f o l i u s , from t h e l i t e r a t u r e I have ava iqab l e . I n t h e Cocoparra Range n e a r O r i f f i t h i n N e w South Wales t h e r e is a t y p e w i th l a r g e r p innae r e f e r r e d t o as P l eu roso rus subg landujosus (Hooker & G r e v i l l e ) T inda l e . However i t a p p e a r s g l a n d u l a r h a i r s ; b u t as b o t h h a i r s have been found on specimens of P. r u t i f o l i u s ; i t is t h e same f e r n .

Fleu roso rus r u t i f o l i u s ( c o n t i n u e d )

Another p o i n t i s t h a t most r e c o r d s of t h i s s p e c i e s s t a t e t h a t i t i s u s u a l l y found i n a rocky s i t u a t i o n , o r growing between r o c k s ; s o p o s s i b l y i t may have a l i t h o p h y t i c tendency, I sugges ted t h a t i n i t s c u l t i v a t i o n p i e c e s of s ands tone cou ld be used when p l a n t i n g o u t s p o r e l i n g s , by p l a c i n g it b e s i d e t h e s m a l l p l a n t s .

T h i s f e r n is wide spread th roughout A u s t r a l i a ex t end ing i n t o t h e d r i e r a r i d a r e a s .

By Ray Best . ----------- CYATkIU KARCESCENS PROPAGATED FROM S P O R E ? - --- By hod H i l l .

I t is generally accep ted t h a t Cyathea marcescens, t h e s k i r t e d T r e e f e r n , I s a hyb r id between Cyathea A u s t r a l i s (Rough T r e e f e r n ) and C, cunninghamii ( S l e n d e r Treefern) .As with many h y b r i d s , i t seems that t h e S k i r t e d T r e e f e r n is s t e r i l e ; a l l of my own many a t t e m p t s t o c o l l e c t and grow s p o r e have been wi thou t success .

S e v e r a l y e a r s ago I was a b l e t o c o l l e c t s p o r e of Cyathea cunninghamii and dec ided t h i s was a p e r f e c t o p p o r t u n i t y t o a t t e m p t t o c r o s s t h i s w i t h C . a u s t r a l i s . Many of t h e methods o u t l i n e d i n t e x t b o o ~ s f o r crossing ferns sound r a t h e r t e c h n i c a l and t e d i o u s and s o I op ted f o r s i m p l y sowing bo th s p o r e t o g e t h e r and a l l owing n a t u r e t o t a k e i ts course .

However, i t seemed t o me sowing equa l q u a n t i t i e s o feach p a r e n t would n o t encourage h y b r i d i z a t i o n . I f t h e r e a r e p l e n t y of each pa r en t p r e s e n t , then t h e r e seems t o be a g r e a t e r o p p o r t u n i t y f o r each p r o t h a l l u s t o be f e r t i l i z e d by t h e same s p e c i e s , and l e s s chance of c r o s s f e r t i l i z a t i o n . However, i f t h e r e a r e on ly a v e r y few of one s p e c i e s p r e s e n t , t h e r e seems ( t o my brand of l o g i c anyway) t o be a g r e a t e r chance of t h e s e few be ing f e r t i l i z e d by t h e o t h e r s p e c i e s p r e s e n t i n l a r g e numbers.

Armed wi th th is c o n v i c t i o n , I sowed a normal pot of Cyathea cunninghamii and t h e n sowed over t h i s t h e s m a l l e s t p o s s i b l e amount of C augtralis spore. From t h i s mixed sowing, as w e l l as l a r g e numbers of C. cunninghamii and a few C, australis, t h e r e were a hand fu l of plants that were n o t c l e a r l y d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e -

as e i t h e r C, auatralis o r C. cunninahamii but as t h e y grew, t h e f r o n d s seemed t o become more like C. australis, However t h e crowns seem t o r e t a i n t h e appearance of C. cunnlnghanii, wi th p a l e s c a l e s and dark s t i p e s .

Although b o t a d c a l l y , . there i s no- d e f i n i t e ev idence as y e t t h a t t h e s e a r e i n f a c t hybr ids , i n -my own mind I am convinced t h a t some p l a n t s from t h i s mixed sowing a r e n e i t h e r C athea

prove e v e n t u a l l y t o be Cyathea marcescens, + australis n o r Cyathea cunninghamii and I am c e r t a i n t ese w i l l

Being a hybrid, Cm marcescens h a s a ve ry l i m i t e d n a t u r a l d i s t r i b u t i o n , and i s v z t u a l l y not a v a i l a b l e commercial ly. So, I hope I can encourage m a n y members t o do something towards c o n s e r v a t i o n of t h i s r a r e t r e e f e r n and a t t emp t t o grow some from spo re .

S P O R E BANK. -- The fo l l owing a l t e r a t i o n s app ly t o t h e s p o r e l i s t p r i n t e d

i n t h e December, 1983, n e w s l e t t e r ; Add -

Blechnum c h a m b e r s i i C h r f s t e l l a d e n t a t a L a s t r e o p s i s h i s p i d a .

DID YOU KNOW. --- S n a i l s w i l l n o t damage f e r n s i f sawdust i s s p r i n k l e d about .

S n a i l s cannot c rawl over sawdust.

Family - S i n o p t e r i d a c eae. D o r y o p t e r i s c o n c o l o r (Langsd. e t F i s c h . ) Kuhn.

------- S t e r i l e f rond

( 'Aetual size)

c o n t i n u o

( A c t u a l size)

T h i s genus of abou t 35 s p e c i e s i s found mainly i n t r o p i c a l America. TWO s p e c i e s have been found i n Queensland.

These f e r n s can be e a s i l y recognised by t h e palm shaped f ronds . The s o r i i s con t inuous a l o n g t h e margin of t h e f rond and i s covered by t h e t h i n r e f l e x e d edge of t h e binriae.

CORYOkTEliIS concolar. Th i s i s a small t e r r e s t i a l o r l i t h o p h y t i c f e r n u s u a l l y

found growing on rocks i n c r e e k s and g u l l i e s o r under low s c r u b a l o n g t h e banks.

The rhizome is s h o r t c r eep ing , t h e s t i p e s b l a c k and s h i n y u s u a l l y crowded, t h e f r o n d s e r e c t , b r i g h t g r een and markedly dimorphic . The f e r n r a n g e s from n o r t h e r n t o sou the rn Queensland, b u t i s now very r a r e i n t h e s o u t h e r n p a r t .

T h i s s p e c i e s i s e a s i l y r a i s e d from s p o r e b u t is found t o be d i f f i c u l t t o keep growing. Many p l a n t s , some up t o 5cm h igh have w i l t e d and d i e d , f o r no appa ren t r e a son , w h i l s t o t h e r s groiving under t h e very same c o n d i t i o n s have f l o u r i s h e d .

Under c u l t i v a t i o n , i n Sydney, f e r n s of t h i s s p e c i e s a r e groiving i n t e r r e s t i a l p o t t i n g mix ture , which i s kep t even ly mois t . E x t r a h e a t i n g i s needed d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r months.

DOKYOPTERIS ludens. Thi s s p e c i e s i s d i s t r i b u t e d from n o r t h e r n I n d i a southwards

th rough Malaysia t o N e w Guinea. The f e r n h a s r e c e n t l y been d i s cove red on Cape York Pen insu la . The s p e c i e s i n Malaya i s con f ined t o growing on l imes tone .

The rhizome is l o n g c r e e p i n g , t h e s t i p e s a r e n e a r l y b l ack , t h e f ronds a r e d imorphic , t h e f e r t i l e l a r g e r and more lobed t h a n t h e s t e r i l e f rond. The s o r i is con t i nuous as w i t h o t h e r s p e c i e s of t h i s genus

I have n o t s e e n t h i s s p e c i e s , b u t i t i s assumed t h e c u l t i v a t i o n would be similiar f o r a l l s p e c i e s of t h e genus, i . e . medium l i g h t w i t h no d i r e c t sun, s o i l even ly mo i s t , g reen house c o n d i t i o n s w i th warmth i n t h e c o l d e r weather . P o s s i b l y t h e a d d i t i o n of l imes tone i n t h e p o t t i n g mix ture would be i n o rde r .

FARAC ETERACH ,. T h i s i a a genus, o f two s p e c i e s , wh ich i s e v i d e n t l y enderr.ic

t o A u s t r a l i a . The f e r n s a r e t e r r e s t i a l , wi th s h o r t c r e e p i n g rhizomes, t h e f r o n d s a r e p i n n a t e t h e pinnae is d e n s e l y covered wi th s c a l e s uhicli e n a b l e s t h e s p e c i e s t o s u r v i v e i n t h e d r i e r a r e a s . The f e r n s a r e d rought r e s i s t a n t , t h e f r o n d s s h r i v e l and c u r l u p bu t r e v i v e qu i ck ly when watered. -

FASAC ETERACH muelleri . T h i s s p e c i e s grows amongst r o c k s i n t h e d r i e r a r e a s . The

f r o n d s p inna t e , t h e pinnae o v a t e o r oblong, t h e upper s u r f a c e covered w i th l i g h t brown s c a l e s , t h e unde r su r f ace d e n s e l y covered w i th s c a l e s which cove r t h e s o r i , The d i s t r i b u t i o n is n o r t h e r n Queensland .

A speciman r e c e i v e d from t h e Mareeba a r e a of Nor thern Queensland is growing i n Sydney, i n a t e r r e s t i a l p o t t i n g mix ture , which is kep t mois t . T h i s f e r n w i l l need t o be g iven e x t r a h e a t d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r months.

PARAC ETEKACH r e y n o l d s i i . T h i s s p e c i e s i s s i m i l i a r t o I?. m u e l l e r i b u t t i a ~ a wider r ange ,

be ing recorded i n t h e d r i e r a r e a s of North Queensland, South A u s t r a l i a , Western Aus' tra. l ia and t h e Northern T e r r i t o r y .

The pinnao a r e dal 'k green i n s t e a d of l i g h t g r een as i n P. m u e l l e r i and t h e scale:; a r e r ed brown and no t l i g h t brown.

T have no t s een this s p e c i e s but assume t h e c u l t i v a t i o n would be t h e same f o r a l l s p e c i e s ,

Family - Xemioni t idac e a e

P a r a c e t e r a c h muelleri (Hook.) Copel.

Top s i d e of pinnae. covered with s c a l e s

Unders ide of p innae showing sari------------

F e r t i l e Frond

(~ctual s i z e )

Sunday, 17 th June, 1984. - Meet a t 11.00am a t t h e home of S y l v i a G a r l i c k , 3 Vglleg-

view Crescen t , o f f C a l d a r r a Avenue, Engadine. p l e a s e b r i n g your lunch and a l p l a t e l f o r a f t e rnoon t e a .

\

Friday, 20th J u l y , 1 984, I - Keet a t 7.30pm, S. G. A. P. Regional Meeting, School of - -

H o r t i c u l t u r e , Parkes S t r e e t , Ryde. Guest Speaker , Rod H i l l . Sub j ec t Fropagat ion and Growing

of Ferns. Rod i s a member of our Fern Study Group and was u n t i l r e c e n t l y , Spore Bank Manager f o r t h e Fern S o c i e t y of V i c t o r i a .

Saturday, Z l s t July, 1984. O u r Group w i l l be e n t e r t a i n i n g Rod H i l l , a t a venue t o be

decided. I n t e r e s t e d members rill be a b l e t o g e t more i n fo rma t ion by r i n g i n g P h y l l i s Brown, 7056413 a f t e r our nex t meeting.

SundayL 19 th August, 1984. V i s i t Centennial Glen n e a r Blackheath i n t h e Blue Nountains.

Th i s i s an easy walk and t h e r e should be p l e n t y of f e r n s t o see . Neet a t t h e Hydro Ma je s t i c H o t e l a t Medlow Bath a t 10.00am. P l ea se b r i n g a p i c n i c lunch.

Sunday, 23rd Septe~ber, 1934. Meet a t 11.00am at t h e home of Geoff Long, 23 Fowler S t r e e t ,

Camperdown. P l ea se b r i n g your lunch and a ' p l a t e c f o r a f t e r n o o n t e a .

Sa turday and Sunday, 13th and 14 th October, 1984. S Y D ~ Y ~ I ~ L ~ EKHIBI'TION. -

The Fern S t u d y Group will be m a n n i r . ~ t h e f e r n d i s p l a y and - " f e r n s a l e s a r e a s . A l o t of a s s i s t a n c e w i 3 i be needed on F r i d a y Sa turday and Sunday,

Saturday and Sunday, 1 0th and 1 1 t h Noveml~er, 1 984. - - -- Visit t h e Watagan S t z t ~ F o r e s t w i t l . . rrtembers from t h e

Newcastle a r e a , Meet a t t h e home of Roy and Bea Duncan, 167 Freemans Dr ive , Mor i s se t , a t 10.30am each morning,This i s about one and a h a l f hours d r i v e from t h e T o l l Gates. There a r e two caravan parks c l o s e handy f o r t h o s e wish ing t o s t a y overn igh t .

December, 1984. V i s i t t h e home of P e t e r and Margaret Olde, 138 Fowler Road,

I l lawong. The d a t e w i l l be adv ised i n t h e nex t n e w s l e t t e r .

For f u r t h e r i n fo rma t ion r e g a r d i n g t h e above o u t i n g s p l e a s e r i n g P h y l l i s Brown, t e l ephone number 7056413.

FEXN NUESERIES, The fo l l owing f e r n n u r s e r i e s can be added t o t h e l i s t

p rev ious ly supp l i ed ; Groves of F e r n s , M t . Evelyn Fern Cen t r e , 18 The Cre scen t , 63 York Road, H omebush . 2 1 40 M t . Evelyn. 3796. N.S.W. V i c t o r i a ,

J e f f N a r r i s l lC owarra l "

H.M.B. 19 Forbes R i v e r Road, V i a Wauchope. N.S.W. T h i s n u r s e r y is 14 kms from Yarras. V

Please t e l ephone f i r s t 065 8771 32.

(Mrs) ~hu~l l i s Brown, Leader, Fern Study Group - S.G.A.P.