All staff of the State Herbarium of South Australia are attending the South Australian NRM Science Conference from Wed., 13 Apr. to Fri., 15 Apr. 2016. The Conference also includes a special botany symposium in celebration of the Herbarium’s 60th birthday in 2014/15: Botany 2016—past, present and future. The full conference program and abstract booklet can be downloaded here.
Please note that the State Herbarium is closed during these three days. It will reopen on Mon., 18 Apr. 2016.
The State Herbarium has chosen Choretrum glomeratum R. Br. (common sour bush), as Plant of the Month for April 2016. It is found across southern South Australia and in Lincoln National Park, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources‘ Park of the Month.
Type specimen of Choretrum glomeratum, collected by Robert Brown (Natural History Museum, London)
Choretrum glomeratum was first collected at Memory Cove by Robert Brown, between the 22–25 of February 1802. This became the type collection of the species and was made just after Matthew Flinders’ voyage had lost a cutter and its crew. This collection was later illustrated by Ferdinand Bauer for Endlicher‘s Iconographia generum plantarum (plate 45). Acacia alcockii was also collected at the same time and was annotated by Brown as “Mimosa no. 2”, but this collection did not become a type and was later mistakenly identified as Acacia retinodes.
The botanical legacy of Flinders’ expedition is discussed in detail in this article (28MB PDF) by State Herbarium Hon. Research Associate Robyn Barker.
Choretrum glomeratum grows into a many stemmed shrub 1–2 m high. Its erect branches with winged leaf bases and small leaves up to 3 mm long have a distinct pale yellow/green colour. The small white flowers occur throughout the year but are most obvious in late summer and autumn, fruit is a round ridged fleshy drupe that would probably benefit from passage through a gut for germination.
Choretrum glomeratum, branch with flowers & fruits and close-up of flower (Photo: SA Seed Conservation Centre)
A member of Santalaceae (3.6MB Flora of South Australia PDF), the 7 species of Choretrum restricted to Australia are parasitic on the roots of other plants, much like the better known quondong (Santalum acuminatum), sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) and native cherry (Exocarpos cupressiformis).
Choretrum glomeratum and some of its close relatives are part of a fascinating interaction between Camponotus ants (see Guide to Camponotus ants of Australia published by the SA Museum) and Ogyris otanes butterflies. Chewed branch ends on the shrub indicate the presence of the butterfly’s caterpillars that live in the ant’s nest and are escorted to and from the plant by the ants. Similar associations also occur with this group of blue butterflies and ants on mistletoes. The decline of plant numbers through habitat fragmentation and inappropriate fire regimes also impacts the butterfly population.
The 2016 Australian Bryophyte Workshop has been announced.
Generally held every two years, the workshops aim to present opportunities for those interested in learning about bryophytes to meet and exchange knowledge in different environments. This year will present the first opportunity for the intrepid to venture into an environment largely unfavourable for bryophytes, the semi-arid fringes of the centre of Australia. This will present people with a different challenge from other workshops — the need to search for the small in size and quantity. Only 109 moss and 28 hepatic taxa are represented in the State Herbarium collections from the Flinders Ranges, but expert eyes may find more!
If you’re interested in attending or just interested in keeping in touch with workshop developments check the meeting’s website. Registrations are open now.
Grimmia sp. and and lichen Acarospora schleicheri, Flinders Ranges, September 2015
For the last few years the staff of the State Herbarium of South Australia shared offices in the old Tram Barn A building with other teams from the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources‘ Science Monitoring and Knowledge branch.
DEWNR staff packing their offices in Tram Barn A
Later this year, staff of most of the Department’s offices throughout the metropolitan area will be consolidated in one building, 81 Waymouth St in Adelaide. The Knowledge Coordination and Evaluation & Reporting teams are part of this move, but have had to leave their premises at the Tram Barn A early to a temporary home at Keswick.
They are making way for a new tenant, the Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure, which needed the space earlier than expected. The new DPTI office in Tram Barn A will house engineers and other staff involved in the O-Bahn City Access Project.
The NRM Science Conference 2016 will be held on 13–15 April at The University of Adelaide. It will showcase the natural resource management science underpinning environmental decision making, policy and management in South Australia over three days. Presenters include university and government scientists and the event is open to all. The Conference is organised by the S.A. Department of Water, Environment and Natural Resources and the S.A. NRM Research & Innovation Network.
The aims of the event are to:
The State Herbarium of South Australia is organising a special symposium Botany 2016—past, present and future, celebrating the Herbarium’s 60th anniversary in 2015. Over 20 invited speakers will present talks on plant life in South Australia, new botanical research and the history of botany in the State.
Everyone is welcome to attend the NRM Conference. Registration to the event is free. Please visit this web-site to register.
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