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The Eremophila Study Group – its role in Conservation and horticulture

Lyndal Thorburn�1 August 2020

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E. cuneifolia

Photos Phil Hempel

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Presentation Structure

1. Study Group
3. Conservation
2. Horticulture and Propagation
4. Bringing the two together

E. muelleriana

Pics by Andrew Brown, Brian Freeman

E. caperata

E. mackinlayi

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E maculata x racemosa (photo Phil Hempel)

Eremophila eriocalyx (photo Russell Wait)

1. ANPSA Study Groups

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Overview

17 Study Groups –

Genera: Acacia, Australian Pea Flowers, Banksia, Correa, Dryandra, Eremophila, Eucalyptus (Corymbia/Angophora), Fern, Goodeniacae, Grevillea, Hakea, Isopogon/Petrophile
Ecology: Wallum and Coastal Heathland
Horticulture: Bonsai, Plants for Containers
Use: Food plants, Garden Design (Canberra)

Main aim of study groups (generally) is growing plants around Australia, and propagation.
Meetings, visits, research, education, field trips, publications

Australian Native Plants Society Australia

Early on in the Society's history it was realised that knowledge about the cultivation of Australian native plants was very limited and there was little published information available. One way to help overcome this deficiency was to set up specialist Study Groups whose aim was to record the successes (and failures) of growing Australian species in various localities. Over the years these Groups have contributed valuable data which is assisting today's growers.

Study Groups undertake the study of some particular aspect of Australian plants (usually a genus or a related group of genera) and there are currently 17 Study Groups Australia wide. The number of Study Groups may increase or decrease depending on the level of interest in a particular genus or group. Some groups are active for just a few years while others exist more or less permanently. Another 26 have come and gone.

Study Groups allow members with specific interests to develop their interest to the fullest extent and to contribute in a practical way to the body of knowledge on the Australian flora. Membership of a Study Group can vary from just a few members to over 200.

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http://anpsa.org.au/eremophilaSG/index.html

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ESG Leaders

1972 1980 1990 2015

Our SG started in 1970s and has had 4 leaders.

1. Ken Warnes; started studying Eremophila in 1963 and was a founding member of Project Eremophila which was sponsored by ANPS SA. Ken was the first SG leader from 1975 – 1980. National Amateur Award in 2011 (ANPSA). Ken started the registered cultivar collection with the first applications to ACRA for named Eremophila varieties. Eremophila warnesii is named after Ken.

2. Geoff Needham 1980-1989. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to the foundry industry. A member of SGAP since 1964, Geoff served a two year term as State President in 1969-70. He was a very effective propagator, using a unique mixture based on coke breeze from the foundry. It was during Geoff's time as leader that Bob Chinnock began his study of the genus and the two worked closely together. Geoff grew the Study Group to 130 members grew over 120 species and Eremophilas became more common garden subjects during his term.

3. Colin Jennings 1990-2015; He was an active member of SGAP (SA Region) for a number of years, with a particular interest in propagation. Colin taught science in Adelaide and elsewhere. He was also very active in the orchid society. He and his wife Myrnie were granted service awards at 2014 APS SA AGM, and he was a life member of Orchid Society

4. Lyndal – joined the SG in 1985 and took over as leader in 2015 on Geoff’s death. I am a life member of ANPS Canberra and also a member of APS NSW SE region group. My background is in ecology and genetics. Tom and I have been members of the propagation group for APS Canberra since 1979, and were on the editorial panel for the 2^nd edition of Australian Plants for Canberra Gardens in the 1980s. I also maintained the propagation group database for 15 years and our land in Qbn hosts the APS Canberra igloo and propagation hotbed. Proud to say we have added 100 Eremophila varieties to the plants that are sold by APS Canberra at its twice-yearly sales, and have shown that many Eremophila are frost hardy, even in Canberra’s climate.

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Study Group members

TOTAL 151 as at June 2020

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Activities

Newsletter – 2-3 times/yr - propagation/cultivation experiences, collecting

(total 125 - for 35 years the only source of information on growing Eremophila apart from academic papers on taxonomy and chemistry)

Meetings, presentations and displays at ANPSA Biennial Conference and in informal groups

Censuses and surveys – records of what is grown, “feature species” in N/Ls

Image database, compiled with assistance of members

Propagation supplies

Eremophila lucida

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Survey results - 2015

Future Potential Activities of the Study Group	Rank
Day excursions/field trips (e.g. garden visits)	1
Excursions/field trips which require an overnight stay	2
Workshops to learn something from an expert (e.g. about propagation)	3
Exchange of propagation material from members' gardens	4
Acquisition of propagation material from wild-collected plants	5
Development/registration of cultivars	6
Meetings of members to exchange ideas and experiences	7
Participation in flower shows or displays	8
Maintenance of living collections e.g. in public gardens	9
Production of materials that can be used as display materials	10
Production of a book on the genus	11
A census of species grown in members' gardens	12
Promulgation of propagation information e.g. how to grow cuttings, seeds	13
Email or moderated discussion group amongst members	14
Online public species list with propagation/horticultural notes (similar to the Grevillea Study Group's Gallery)	15
Eremophila Bibliography - a list of books and publications about the genus	16
Sponsor collecting field trips	17
Distillation of information on what to grow and where (geographic location and garden conditions)	18

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Survey results - 2015

Future Potential Activities of the Study Group	Rank
Day excursions/field trips (e.g. garden visits)	1
Excursions/field trips which require an overnight stay	2
Workshops to learn something from an expert (e.g. about propagation)	3
Exchange of propagation material from members' gardens	4
Acquisition of propagation material from wild-collected plants	5
Development/registration of cultivars	6
Meetings of members to exchange ideas and experiences	7
Participation in flower shows or displays	8
Maintenance of living collections e.g. in public gardens	9
Production of materials that can be used as display materials	10
Production of a book on the genus	11
A census of species grown in members' gardens	12
Promulgation of propagation information e.g. how to grow cuttings, seeds	13
Email or moderated discussion group amongst members	14
Online public species list with propagation/horticultural notes (similar to the Grevillea Study Group's Gallery)	15
Eremophila Bibliography - a list of books and publications about the genus	16
Sponsor collecting field trips	17
Distillation of information on what to grow and where (geographic location and garden conditions)	18

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Survey results - 2015

Future Potential Activities of the Study Group	Rank
Day excursions/field trips (e.g. garden visits)	1
Excursions/field trips which require an overnight stay	2
Workshops to learn something from an expert (e.g. about propagation)	3
Exchange of propagation material from members' gardens	4
Acquisition of propagation material from wild-collected plants	5
Development/registration of cultivars	6
Meetings of members to exchange ideas and experiences	7
Participation in flower shows or displays	8
Maintenance of living collections e.g. in public gardens	9
Production of materials that can be used as display materials	10
Production of a book on the genus	11
A census of species grown in members' gardens	12
Promulgation of propagation information e.g. how to grow cuttings, seeds	13
Email or moderated discussion group amongst members	14
Online public species list with propagation/horticultural notes (similar to the Grevillea Study Group's Gallery)	15
Eremophila Bibliography - a list of books and publications about the genus	16
Sponsor collecting field trips	17
Distillation of information on what to grow and where (geographic location and garden conditions)	18

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77

E. oppositifolia�subsp oppositifolia

E. oppositifolia�subsp rubra

2. Conservation

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Threatened flora (total)

Extinct = 37 species
Critically endangered = 191
Endangered = 557
Vulnerable = 588

(EPBC Act)

1373

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4 critically endangered

Eremophila sp. ssp. Scadden
Eremophila koobabiensis
Eremophila rostrata
Eremophila subangustifolia (formerly microtheca ssp. narrow leaves)

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13 listed as endangered

E. ciliata
E. denticulata ssp. trisulcata
E. glabra ssp. chlorella
E. lactea (lower left)
E. nivea
E. pinnatifida (lower right)
E. resinosa
E. scaberula
E. subteretifolia (top left)
E. ternifolia
E. verticillata
E. virens (top right)
E. viscida

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3 listed as vulnerable

E. denticulata ssp. denticulata
E. prostrata
E. vernicosa

(Myoporum cordifolium)

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E. nivea (critically endangered)

Declared Rare Plants of the Geraldton District (WA); Interim Recovery Plan No. 101 (WA)
found nr Three Springs, Morawa and Perenjori in open York Gum
≥80% reduction in population size and decline in extent of occurrence, area of occupancy and quality of habitat.
Incr. from 300 plants in 2001 to 927 in 2018.

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3. Horticulture and propagation

Eremophila abietina ssp ciliata

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E. strongylophylla

E. warnesii

E. cuneifolia

E. glabra ssp tomentosa (Murchison R form)

E. glabra ssp verrucosa

Photos Phil Hempel

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How to grow from seed, cutting or grafting

E. glabra Roseworthy

E. glabra Amber Carpet

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Wet climates

Tubs
Covers
Airflow
Non-grey species
Prune any dieback

Eremophila fasciata

Photo Charles Farrugia

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Hybrids and cultivars

E. viscida x maculata

E. viscida x bignoniiflora

E. viscida x miniata

Photos Russell Wait, David Oldfield, Ken Warnes, Bob Blake

E. drummondii x rotundifolia

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Cultivars

After a lot of thought, we have been lodging applications with ACRA to register cultivars.

This is partly to standardise common names e.g. Fairy Floss. We are hoping that registration will reduce incentive for re-naming. Re-naming is attractive to the nursery industry and there is a trend for every plant to have a snazzy “marketing” common name, which may or may not be related to its accepted common name. But it confuses the buying public – Fairy Floss was found last year being sold as Desert Passion

Registering cultivars enables us to claim new varieties and helps them to be brought to market. Meringur Isaac is another from Ray Schilling which has been brought out by the efforts of Russell Wait, E bignoniiflora x E polyclada – hybrid.

Eremophila ‘Fruit Salad’ – ground cover form of E glabra ssp. carnosa – we have been consulted about the label and have been able to add information about growing that will help those choosing plants to make the right decision.

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Bringing conservation�and �horticulture together

How can we in ESG support better conservation through our interest in growing Eremophila?

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1. Grow the species being threatened

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2. Bring in new wild-sourced material

Comply with the permit system for sourcing
New material enhances genetic diversity

Colour varieties
Leaf variations and horticultural potential
Resistance to drought, frost, insect

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E. lehmanniana

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3. Devise more reliable propagation techniques

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4. Raise awareness of the genus among the public

Special edition on Eremophila for Australian Plants Jnl
Facebook

Australian Native Plant Enthusiasts’ Forum – 36,000

Canberra Gardeners’ Advice Group – 4,800
Yass Australian Native Plants - 260
Eremophila Growers - 1600

Gardening with Angus

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5. Support research

Share information
Help research projects e.g. through collection of samples
Collection of wild samples and finding new species (e.g. E. waitii)

We can also support the research that helps us understand the species, its uses and conservation

Have academics as members who contribute articles
Participated in the first international Eremophila conference held between Australia and Denmark in 2019 and shared our knowledge about the genus
Contribute to gathering of samples for research – hear more about that in Ben’s talk that comes after
Discovering undescribed species and subspecies that are worthy of protection: those 17spp. that are listed as endangered in some way exclude the 19spp. described since Bob Chinnock completed his Eremophila book in 2007. Eremophila waitii, for example, was only described in 2019, is known from only one population and is only just now listed as what is called Priority 1 under the WA Conservation Code
Finally, we are building a fund for research support from the donations from NPW from sale of labels. As we register more cultivars we will preferentially release them through NPW and will get donations – from which we can fund a top up grant for a PhD or honours student working on the genus.

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Conclusions

45 years of the Study Group, �main focus on growing and propagation
What can we do going forward???

Promote Eremophila in social media�and your regional and local newsletters
continue info on horticulture to the �SG newsletter
Be aware of seedlings in your own �garden
Join landcare groups (as relevant)
Collecting permits for wild sourcing

How can you help?

E. ballythunensis �pic Andrew Brown

E. ‘Picanninny Dawn’ �pic Ken Warnes