Author Archives: Jürgen

Interesting algae in the lake

Botryococcus braunii

This photograph shows a microscopic image of Botryococcus braunii. Hon. Research Associate Bob Baldock reports that this interesting algae has appeared within floating rafts of filamentous green algae (mainly Oedogonium sp.) in the storagepond of the new Adelaide Botanic Gardens’ First Creek Wetland.

Botryococcus braunii grows as a colony of egg-shaped cells within a tough, gelatinous sheath: individual colonies may cling together by gelatinous strands. Although a member of the green algae, it, and its colonial matrix are usually coloured yellow or brown. Individual cells store oil droplets, and this feature is currently being researched as a possible source of bio-fuel. — But don’t worry, there is insufficient to set the pond alight!

Bob Baldock is a long-time associate of the State Herbarium of South Australia, responsible for the creation of the Algae Revealed fact-sheet series on marine algae of southern Australia.

The invading flora: a regional account of the assault

Recently, State Herbarium botanist Peter Lang has compiled the numbers of vascular plants occurring in the wild in South Australia for 2013. There are 4,940 taxa (= species, subspecies & varieties) in the state, of which 1,267 taxa (25.6%) are naturalised alien plants (weeds). A further 232 taxa (4.7%) are questionably naturalised: these are, for example, plants that are found in cultivation and have escaped, but it is not proven whether they will maintain their wild populations. Including these the total for alien taxa is 1,499 (30.3%), or almost one third of plants found in the State.

The graph below depicts the numbers of plants for each of the 13 botanical regions (as used by the State Herbarium). The lowest number of introduced taxa is found in the NW (North Western) region of the State, with only 5.9% of naturalised and questionably naturalised plants. The SL (Southern Lofty) region, which includes Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula, has the highest number of alien plants, 46.4%. As expected, more remote regions, away from large settlements, have fewer naturalised and questionably naturalised taxa.

Weeds are not only introduced through agricultural practices, but also escape from gardens. Plants listed as questionably established highlight potential weeds of the future and warrant monitoring or control, to prevent them becoming established.

Click here to see the original data.

Numbers of native (incl. questionably native), naturalised and questionably naturalised plants in South Australia (as of 11 Dec. 2013)

Christmas greetings

Spitzingsee in the Bavarian Alps, Germany

The State Herbarium of South Australia wishes all its friends, volunteers and Hon. Associates a happy Christmas break and all the best for the New Year. We hope to see you all again in 2014.

Seminar dates for 2014

Spyridium halmaturinum

The State Herbarium of South Australia’s seminar series It’s all about the plants will continue next year. The talks will again take place in the Botanic Garden’s Goodman Building Lecture Theatre (Hackney Road, Adelaide) on the first Tuesday of every month, except January and December, from 10:00–12:00.

The dates for 2014 are:
4 February, 4 March, 1 April, 6 May, 3 June, 1 July, 5 August, 7 October and 4 November.

Topics will be announced on this BLOG about two weeks before a seminar takes place, so stay tuned (and subscribe to get updates). All Herbarium staff, honoraries, volunteers and students are welcome.

Fruit salad at the Museum

Rotgestreifte Gewürz Reinette

Recently, a new book was published, documenting the historical collection of fruit models in the Museum of Economic Botany, Adelaide Botanic Gardens. The Museum holds one of the most complete collection of apples, pears and stone-fruit (plums and apricots) manufactured by Heinrich Arnoldi & Co. in Germany.

Kanellos, T. (2013). Imitation of life — a visual catalogue of the 19th century fruit models in the Santos Museum of Economic Botany in the Adelaide Botanic Garden: a collection of papier mâché models made by Heinrich Arnoldi & Co. Gotha, Germany (1856–1899). (Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium: Adelaide).

All 360 painted papier mâché fruit models are depicted in beautiful full page photographs by Paul Atkins. The accompanying text by Tony Kanellos, Cultural Collections Manager and Curator of the Museum, describes the history of the collection and of its manufacturer.

The book is available from the reception at the Goodman Building, Hackney Road (phone 08 8222 9311 for mail orders), from the Diggers Garden Shop in the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, and selected booksellers. Retail price $69.

Update: Imitation of Life won The Museums Australia Multimedia and Publication Design Award for 2014.