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The Clematis Autumn 2011 Issue No 87

Quarterly Newsletter of theBairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club Inc A0006074C

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BAIRNSDALE & DIST FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB INC. A0006074C

List of Office Bearers for 2011

President: Pat McPherson ph. (03) 5152 2614 pmcphers@datafast.net.au

Vice President: James Turner ph. (03) 5155 1258 jameslynn@tvsched.com

Secretary: Fran Bright ph. (03) 5152 2008 franjohnbright@bigpond.com

Treasurer: Margaret Regan ph. (03) 5156 2541

Correspondence to: The Secretary,

P.O. Box 563,

BAIRNSDALE 3875

Web Site: www.eastgippsland.com/bdfnc

General meetings take place at: Noweyung Centre, 84 Goold Street Bairnsdale

General meetings take place: as per program at 7.30pm sharp

Committee meetings take place: at members homes, at 4.00pm

(see program)

Group Co-ordinators: Botanic Group: James Turner Ph. (03) 5155 1258

Fauna Survey Group: Jenny Edwards Ph. (03) 5157 5556

Bushwalking Group: Noel Williamson Ph. (03) 5152 1737

Newsletter Editor: Pauline Stewart Ph. (03) 5152 1606

80 Bengworden Rd. Bairnsdale.3875

email: happycats@eastvic.net

All articles for winter Clematis must be in by June 1st.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 1. To further the study of natural history in all its branches, promoted by

periodical meetings, field excursions and other activities.

2. To observe and strengthen the laws for the preservation & protection of

indigenous flora and fauna and habitat and important geological features.

3. To promote the formation and preservation of National and State Parks

and Reserves.

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Dark-tip Greenhood (Pterostylis atrans)

Photo by Fran Bright

14

Australia there are over 200 genera and around 1000 species. The family

is recognized by the ‘flower’, which is really an inflorescence (a group of

flowers). The individual flowers in this case are called florets. These

tiny florets sit on top of a fleshy receptacle surrounded by bracts. In the

‘everlastings’ the bracts are papery and showy and are often mistaken for

petals. Two types of florets are usually seen - tubular florets and ray flo-

rets. Tubular florets have all the petals fused to form a tube with 4 or 5

small lobes (equal to the number of petals) at the top. Ray florets have a

short tube of fused petals with a strap-like ray on one side. This ray has 3

-5 lobes at the end, said to equal the number of petals in the floret.

Three types of inflorescences or heads are mostly found:

In radiate heads the central florets are tubular florets, with 1-2 rows of ray

florets around the outside. The tubular florets are usually bisexual and

the ray florets are often either female or neuter. An example is Alpine

Podolepis.

In the discoid head, the florets are all tubular. Mostly these florets are

bisexual. An example here is Scaly Buttons.

In the ligulate head all the florets have rays, and again mostly these are

bisexual. An example is Flatweed.

☺

Members at Nunniong Plains

Photo by Fran Bright

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RULES TO OBSERVE ON FIELD TRIPS: 1. Excursions are cancelled on days of TOTAL FIRE BAN.

2. Participants to keep a visual on the car in front and behind.

3. When making a turn, give signal, and stay at intersection until

following car has also turned.

4. If separated from other cars, stop, and stay with your car.

Other members will return to find you.

5. Car pool passengers should offer a donation to the driver for fuel costs.

Responsibility for the accuracy of information and opinions expressed in this

newsletter rests with the author of the article.

SUBSCRIPTION FEES

Family membership $30

Single membership $20

Mid-year fee (new members only) $10

LIBRARY INFORMATION - Librarian - Dot Prout Phone: 5153 1303

• Books are generally borrowed for one month - however you can write on

the sign-out sheet if you wish to have it longer.

• Should any library materials need maintenance, please make me aware of

same.

• If you wish to recommend a book, this can be done by writing a short

recommendation for the Clematis. This information could be from our li-

brary books or from other books that you believe our library could look at

purchasing.

CONTENTS

Program March to June 2011 5

Marlo 6-9

Nunniong 10-15

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CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS and email address’s for meetings

and field trips.

Pat McPherson 5152 2614 pmcphers@datafast.net.au

Margaret Regan 5156 2541

Pauline Stewart 5152 1606 happycats@eastvic.net

James Turner 5155 1258 jameslynn@tvsched.com

Noel Williamson 5152 1737 nwilliamson7@hotmail.com

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY FOR BUSH WALKS

Easy Flat, good firm track.

Moderately easy Mostly flat, track in good to fair condition

Moderate May be undulating, track in good to fair condition

Mod. difficult May be some steep sections, track may be rough in

places

Difficult May have long steep sections, track may be non

existent at times

Walks vary in distance from 6 to 14 km.

Contact the leader of the walk for a rating if it’s not included in the program.

Please take note of safety procedures in your Bairnsdale & District Field

Naturalists Club Inc. ‘RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY’ booklet.

The Clematis is printed and supported by

Dept. of Sustainability and Environment,

Bairnsdale.

Front Cover:

Mt. Hotham bushwalk on 29th. Jan. 2011

Photo by Pauline Stewart

13

is a shrub to 4m with large leaves and white flowers; Tasman Flax-lily

(Dianella tasmanica), but with only a few of its brilliant blue berries left;

Royal Bluebell (Wahlenbergia gloriosa); Alpine Podolepis; and Dark-tip

Greenhood (Pterostylis atrans). Not in flower, but observed were Large-

leaf Daisy-bush (Olearia megalophylla) which has large leaves with the

undersurface and stems covered with brown woolly hairs; and the lily

Turquoise Berry (Drymophila cyanocarpa). Ferns seen were Alpine wa-

ter-fern (Blechnum penna-marina) which is a small fern with a creeping

rhizome, fronds with short curved pinnae, and separate barren and fertile

frond; Fish-bone water-fern (B. nudum) which is much larger and upright,

and may even form a trunk; and Mother shield-fern (Polystichum pro-

liferum), another larger fern with divided fronds, with buds forming near

the tips of the fronds. Peat Moss (Sphagnum sp.) which had been seen on

Timbarra Plains near the creek, was also prolific here near water. Two

fungi were the Trametes which has bands of different shades of brown

and White Punk (Laetiporus portentosus). There was much tucking in of

socks and leaping about when the first leech was discovered. Leeches are

segmented and are related to earthworms. They have a muscular, rubbery

body with a large posterior sucker which enables the leech to remain

firmly attached while the mouth and piercing jaws at the other end attack

their prey. They have a mid gut or crop, which is used for storing the

blood of the host. This is kept from coagulating by the anticoagulant in

the salivary secretion. In the crop a very slow digestion of the blood

takes place, and this may take several months. The leeches lay eggs in

cocoons.

Thank you, James, for another wonderful day. You did really well with

the weather too!

For Helen from discussions at Nunniong

“Wort” – appears to mean herb used for food or medicine. Examples of

native Victorian plants whose common name including ‘wort’ are St

John’s wort, moonwort, bladderwort, wrinklewort, waterwort, glasswort,

marshwort, milkwort, mitrewort, pennywort and raspwort, but I haven’t

researched the uses of any of these.

Daisies

The daisy family is called the Asteraceae. It is a very large family with

world-wide distribution. The plants vary from small herbs to trees. In

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shrub Silky Daisy-bush (Olearia myrsinoides); and Alpine Trachymene

(Trachymene humilis) a perennial matting herb with white-pink clusters

of flowers. Alpine Trachymene is in the same family Apiaceae as the

common veggie garden plants, carrot, parsley, dill, fennel and celery.

Birds heard were Grey Shrike-thrush, Superb Fairy-wren and Laughing

Kookaburra. A frequent shrub around the margins of the plain was the

Small-fruit Hakea (Hakea microcarpa) with sharp-pointed leaves. Out

on the plain were the daisies Orange Everlasting, yellow Scaly Buttons

(Leptorhynchos squamatus), and white Chamomile Sunray (Rhodanthe

anthemoides) whose leaves are chamomile-scented when crushed. There

were more pink Triggerplants, a lovely silvery-grey Tussock-grass (Poa

sp.) and the tiny, dense, cushion-like light green Twin-flower Knaweel

(Scleranthus biflorus). We also found a Parson’s Band orchid with every

tepal pink including the two obvious lateral sepals. Other orchids with

finished flowers were Large Alpine Leek-orchid (Prasophyllum sphace-

latum) and Mountain Golden Moths (Diuris monticola). At the edges of

the creek were a Willow-herb (Epilobium sp.) whose pink flowers have

very long ovaries below the petals; more Fairy Aprons; and Mountain or

Austral Cord-rush (Baloskion australe) whose inflorescence stalk or culm

has large upper sheathing scales, and male and female flowers are borne

on different plants (dioecious). An unusual plant was the primitive fern

Austral moonwort (Botrychium australe). This is a rather small light

green plant with only two fronds on one stalk. The lower vegetative

frond is parsley-like, and the upper tripinnate fertile frond is covered with

round sporangia from which spores will be released. There were also a

number of very fresh white puffballs, possibly Vascellum pratense. Su-

perb Fairy-wrens could be heard twittering in the shrubs. A Painted Lady

butterfly was spotted feeding on an Orange Everlasting, and resting on a

log was a fawn moth with a wingspan of about 8cm belonging to the Em-

porer Gum Moth group.

On to Nunniong Road, then Flinns Road to Bentleys Plain Road, where

we detoured back to one of our favourite stops – Bentleys Plain and Mos-

cow Villa. Before afternoon tea we took a short stroll along the walk

across the road from Moscow Villa. There were many birds calling.

Identified were Eastern Whipbird, Silvereye, Superb Lyrebird, Crimson

Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Striated Pardalote and Flame Robin. At

this time of year, not many plants were flowering or with berries. Some

exceptions were Mountain Teatree (Leptospermum grandifolium) which

5

MARCH

Sun. 20th. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club to the Sale Wetlands.

Contact: James Turner

Sun 27th. Bushwalk 9.00am Bridge Club to Pettmans Beach.

Contact: Noel Williamson

APRIL

Thurs. 7th. Committee meeting 4.00pm at Margaret Regan’s home.

Frid. 15th. General meeting 7.30pm. Speaker: Peter Marriott ‘Australian

Moths’.

Sun. 17th. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club, 9.30am Red Knob to the

Buchan area.

Contact: James Turner

Sun. 24th. Bushwalk 9.00am Bridge Club to Holey Plains.

Contact: Noel Williamson

MAY

Thurs. 12th. Planning/committee meeting 4.00pm at Pauline Stewart’s home.

Frid. 20th. General meeting 7.30pm. Speaker: Mike Duncan ‘African Trip’.

Sun. 22nd. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club, 9.30am Nowa Nowa for a

fungi trip to Newmerella.

Sun. 29th. Bushwalk 9.00am Bridge Club to Old Man Hill area.

Contact: Noel Williamson.

NO COMMITTEE OR GENERAL MEETINGS FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER 2011

JUNE

Sun. 19th. Monthly excursion 9.00am Bridge Club to Mitchell River National

Park.

Contact: James Turner

Sun. 26th. Bushwalk 9.00am to Blonde Bay.

Contact: Noel Williamson

☺

PROGRAM MARCH TO JUNE 2011

It is your responsibility to contact the co-ordinator of each field

trip to notify them of your intention to participate.

The co-ordinator can then notify you if the trip has to be cancelled due to

adverse weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

6

MARLO - 15 January 2011 by Margaret Regan

We met near the corner of Bruces Track and the Princes Hwy, where we

found the first of the three hyacinth-orchids that we would see on this day.

The hyacinth-orchids are some of the largest orchids seen in East Gipps-

land, with the Purple and Rosy Hyacinth-orchids growing to 100cm. This

first was Purple Hyacinth-orchid (Dipodium punctatum) which has its te-

pals spotted with deep pink on a paler pink background, and the tepals are

not bent backwards or reflexed. In these orchids the petals and sepals

(excepting the labellum which is a modified petal) are similar in appear-

ance and hence are lumped together as tepals. The Purple Hyacinth-

orchid here had a plain deep pink labellum. One of the hyacinth-orchids

had become the home of a Jewel or Spiny Spider. The males and females

in this spider are similar in appearance, although the males are smaller.

The large abdomen is enamelled black with a yellow and white pattern

and six large spines.

Further into the Colquhuon forest near the corner of Oil Bore Road and

the Lakes – Colquhuon Road was a second species of hyacinth orchid,

which was much somewhat smaller than the Purple Hyacinth-orchid.

This was Blotched Hyacinth-orchid (D. variegatum) whose flowering

stem grows to 80cm, and the flowers have a white background to the bur-

gundy spots. The tepals are only slightly reflexed. Growing together with

the Blotched was the third species of hyacinth-orchid, the Rosy Hyacinth-

orchid (D. roseum). It has reflexed tepals and the labellum is striped

along its length. On the way to this site a Spotted Quail-thrush was seen

on the road. Other plants were Black-anther Flax-lily (Dianella revoluta)

with brilliant blue berries; the delicate mauve Common Fringe-lily

(Thysanotus tuberosus) whose petals have fringed margins; the straggling

herb with mauve flowers, the Hairy Fan-flower (Scaevola ramosissima);

and the red tubular-flowered epacrid Cranberry Heath (Astroloma humi-

fusum). A Rufous Whistler was heard calling. There was also a very pho-

togenic clump of the fruiting bodies of a fungus at the base of a tree,

which the mycelium of the fungus was no doubt digesting. The honey-

coloured gilled structures were about 25cm across with paler edges and

cream gills beneath. In Ostlers Road the overstorey tree was Silvertop

Ash (Eucalyptus sieberi). This tree has dark deeply fissured bark like Red

Ironbark (E. tricarpa), but it has smooth white terminal branches. This

11

spirally up the stem. Another scat seen was that of Emu. In the much

wetter area was the unusual carnivorous Fairy Aprons (Utricularia dicho-

toma). Like most carnivorous plants Fairy Aprons grows in wet areas

where nutrients are difficult to come by. Fairy Aprons have highly modi-

fied immersed leaves in the shape of small bladders. Tiny pond life touch

the sensitive hairs at the entrance to the bladder, and a flap moves inwards

carrying the creature in with the rush of water!! The flap then closes trap-

ping the animal to be digested to provide extra nutrients to the plant.

A dam had been constructed (possible by the cattlemen to water their

stock). In the dam was Tall Spike-rush (Eleocharis sphacelata) whose

large stems are often incorporated into the nests of water birds; and a

bright green Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum sp.) with dense whorled leaves.

A Pobblebonk of Banjo Frog was heard calling. This is a common and

widespread burrowing frog, whose call every month except July. They

usually call from concealment in floating vegetation. Some time was

spent watching the small electric blue damselflies, the Australian Emporer

dragonfly and a rusty brown dragonfly. The damsel- and dragon-flies can

be distinguished at rest by the way they hold their wings. The damselflies

hold theirs along their bodies, while the dragonflies hold them out at right

angles to the body. Damselflies are smaller and more delicate than drag-

onflies – maybe this is reflected in their names? Both damsel- and dragon

-flies lay their eggs in fresh water. They hatch into nymphs which live

underwater. These have gills on their abdomens to allow them to extract

oxygen from the water. For the final moult the insect emerges from the

water and the adult emerges from the last skin. Both nymph and adult are

carnivorous and are expert hunters. Adult dragonflies have very large

compound eyes, and can fly at up to 100 km/hr. From fossils it has been

discovered that they existed on Earth 300 million years ago, before the

dinosaurs, and had wingspans up to 1m across.

Then onto the Nunniong Plains Track, and we had lunch in a lovely clear-

ing in the trees just after crossing the Timbarra River. From here we

walked to Timbarra Plains. The Timbarra River bordered one side of the

plains, and a smaller tributary ran through it. In the forest on the track

was yellow Leafy Bossiaea (Bossiaea foliosa) with minute leaves and

brown stipules at the base of the leaves; yellow Alpine Podolepis

(Podolepis robusta) which has bright green rosettes of broad leaves; a tall

blue daisy Brachyscome aculeata with leaves up the stem; the small white

10

NUNNIONG - 20 February 2011 by Margaret Regan

An enthusiastic large group of Field Nats set out on a long journey up to

the subalpine country around Nunniong. From the Buchan Road we trav-

elled through Buchan South onto Timbarra Road and then Nunnett Road.

Just onto Nunniong Plains Track, and past Nunnett Plains we walked

along a track to another smaller plain (maybe Pig Plain, or nearby). There

had been signs of brumbies, with plenty of horse dung along the road.

This is also an area used for cattle grazing, and we found some tracks and

cattle dung on the plain, with structures obviously used by cattlemen. This

was State Forest, and not National Park!! Along the small track was Tall

Bluebell (Wahlenbergia stricta); the rare white Marsh Daisy

(Brachyscome radicans) with a basal rosette of long narrow leaves; the

small herb purple Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) which is in the lavender

family; and Summer Greenhood (Pterostylis decurva) with a single de-

curved green and white striped flower with brown tonings.

Insects were fairly obvious with Australian Admiral and Common Brown

Butterflies. The Australian Admiral is black, yellow and brown, and one

of the food plants of the larvae is Scrub Nettle (Urtica incisa). The Com-

mon Brown is mostly brown, and its larvae appear to feed exclusively on

grasses. One of the small trees surrounding the plain was Black Sallee

(Eucalyptus stellulata) which has very dark bark at the base, while the up-

per branches are smooth and grey-green. A small shrub with bright red

(edible, we hope) berries and greyish leaves was Mountain Beard-heath

(Acrothamnus hookeri). Another small shrub with long toothed leaves

was River or Long-leaf Lomatia (Lomatia myricoides). Herbaceous dai-

sies were Pale Everlasting (Helichrysum rutidolepis) with grey dense

leaves; Orange Everlasting (Xerochrysum subundulatum), a bright large

‘paper daisy’; the herb Common Cudweed (Euchiton involucratus) with

small inconspicuous flowers in terminal heads; but unfortunately also the

yellow weed Flatweed (Hypochoeris radicata), which with Dandelion

(Taraxacum officinale) seems to be just as prevalent in the high country as

everywhere else. Other small herbs were blue 4-petalled either Slender

Speedwell (Veronica gracilis) or V. subtilis; bright pink Triggerplant

(Stylidium armeria); the tiny yellow single-flowered lily Golden Weather-

glass (Hypoxis hygrometrica); and the pink and white orchid Austral La-

dies Tresses (Spiranthes australis) which has many tiny beautiful flowers

7

straight tree is much fancied by timber-getters for light construction and

wood chips!! There were more plants of the Blotched Hyacinth-orchid

with a white-flowered specimen of Triggerplant (Stylidium graminifoli-

um); Tall Lobelia (Lobelia gibbosa), an herbaceous annual with blue ir-

regular flowers shaped like a fleur-de-lis; and tiny cream Common Rice-

flower (Pimelea humilis) whose flowers from a ball at the end of the stem.

Morning tea was below the Nowa Nowa Trestle Bridge. There is a

swampy section of Stony Creek here with Sword-grass Brown butterflies

fluttering amongst the Red-fruit Sword-sedge (Gahnia sieberiana). The

Red-fruit Sword-sedge is the preferred larval food of the Sword-grass but-

terfly in eastern Victoria. The male butterflies patrol around the larval

plants searching for newly-emerged females. Another plant acclimatised

to damp conditions beneath the trestle bridge was Austral Ladies Tresses

(Spiranthes australis). This orchid has shiny green linear basal leaves,

and a flowering stem to 45cm with tiny spirally-arranged pink and white

flowers. Other small herbaceous plants were two members of the family

Scrophulariaceae (which includes foxgloves and snapdragons), Swamp

Mazus (Mazus pumilio), a prostrate perennial with tiny mauve irregular

flowers; and Austral Brooklime (Gratiola peruviana), a taller perennial

(to 30cm) with toothed leaves and regular pale pink flowers. There was

also prostrate Swamp Goodenia (Goodenia humilis) with yellow 2-lipped

flowers; pink Pale Knotweed (Persicaria lapathifolia) (‘lapathi’ – Latin

for ‘sorrel or dock-like, and ‘folia’ – a leaf’); and Matted Pratia (Lobelia

pedunculata), a mat-forming herb with tiny starry flowers. We heard

Eastern Whipbird and the air was filled with Welcome Swallows and

Martins swooping in and about the trestle bridge. We found yabby towers

and were very fortunate to see a Lace Monitor.

Off then to Marlo Airport for the main purpose of the excursion. This

was to count the rare Bonnet Orchids (Cryptostylis erecta). These fairly

large orchids are very beautiful. They have a single erect ovate leaf,

which is green on one side and purple on the other. The upside-down

flowers (of which there may be 12) have a large translucent purple-striped

concave labellum covering the reproductive parts, and the other tepals are

thin and insignificant. Actually we found we didn’t have to count them,

just view them, as Bill Kosky (one of our Field Nats) and Garry Watts

from Bemm River (two very keen orchidologists) had already carefully

assessed the numbers, and Garry was there to accompany us. Between

8

them and the rest of us we came up with a total of 20 for the day. There

are two other species in this genus of Cryptostylis at this location and we

saw both the Large Tongue-orchid (C. subulata) and the Leafless Tongue-

orchid (C. hunteriana). The Large Tongue-orchid has an upright ovate

leaf which is green on both surfaces, and the decorated red and black la-

bellum is held out at an angle to the stem. The Leafless Tongue-orchid

holds its very furry black and red labellum upright. Another orchid was

Horned Orchid (Orthoceras strictum) whose flowering stem is to 80cm,

with up to 9 yellow-green-brown flowers with long vertical lateral sepals

(the “horns”). The area hasn’t been burnt for some years, so the grasses

and sedges were dense. Also prevalent was Spear Grass-tree

(Xanthorrheoa resinosa) and Scrub Sheoak (Allocasuarina paludosa).

Adding some colour were pink Heath Milkwort (Comesperma ericinum),

a small shrub with pea-like flowers; Bluebells (Wahlenbergia sp.), named

after the Swedish botanist Goran Whalenberg (1780-1851); Tufted Blue

Lily (Thelionema caespitosum) with basal leaves to 55cm; the yellow pea

Golden Spray (Viminaria juncea), a shrub with pendulous branches; blue

Angled Lobelia (Lobelia anceps); and Blue Dampiera (Dampiera stricta)

whose irregular blue flowers have rusty hairs on the backs of their petals.

Two non-flowering, but spore-bearing, plants were Screw fern (Lindsaya

linearis) which has narrow pinnate fronds with fan-shaped pinnae, and the

taller fertile fronds produce spores beneath the margins of the pinnae; and

Swamp selaginella (Selaginella uliginosa), an herbaceous fern ally with

erect stems with tiny leaves in 4 rows, and spores produced at the ends of

the branches loosely grouped in cones. Two Pallid Cuckoos were calling.

We were thrilled to hear that Bill and Garry, with the assistance of Antho-

ny Nelson from the East Gippsland Shire, which is responsible for the air-

port and surrounds, are working on a plan for managing the area, so that

the various rare and interesting plants are preserved.

Many thanks to James for leading the day so ably.

☺

9

Blotched Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium variegatum)

Photo by Fran Bright