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Threatened Species
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Posted by pos02 NSW Aust (My Page) on Thu, Jan 6, 05 at 21:40
| I have recently seen a list of threatened species of native plants in NSW, and was quite appalled at the number of them. I would have thought that quite a lot of these would be suitable to home gardens, especially if they are close to their natural habitat. Is this something the industry should be addressing? Even placing tags on threatened species for sale in the nursary will alert the gardener to plant one or two of these for prosperity. If the extinction of these plants can't be halted in the wild, then at least they can live on in peoples gardens. This is what is happening to the Wollemi Pine, but this has obviously had much more exposure. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Threatened Species
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- Posted by Popi NSW Aust (My Page) on
Fri, Jan 7, 05 at 1:16
| A very good suggestion, Pos02, I think people would be keen to put these plants in their gardens if they knew about their status. Do you have a site for this list, perhaps you could post it. Thanks |
RE: Threatened Species
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What you say is true, and should be emphasized. The fact is that horticulture and horticuturists recieve a bad name as introducers of new weeds. The flip side of this is the fact that horticulture is often the last resort for many threatened / endangered species of plants. As regulations clamp down on introduction of new plant species, I think that this is something that often gets forgotten...
Dan |
RE: Threatened Species
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- Posted by roysta Gosford NSW (My Page) on
Fri, Jan 7, 05 at 23:44
Some nurseries do highlight plants that are endangered, but this is the exception rather the norm.
Although it's a Brisbane-area plant I found several Austromyrtis gonocladas for sale at a Sydney nursery.
I bought one and put it in our backyard.
It's doing really well.
Nurseries should be pushed on this one, particularly given that the drought is worsening and more and more emphasis is on planting natives.
Roy |
RE: Threatened Species
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My native nursery at Heathcote, Sydney has endangered plant tags on certain species ie Correa Buerlinni (sic) Austromyrtis species etc. It is a good idea and Ive bough a few.
cheers |
RE: Threatened Species
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| I am working on this issue here in Epping - Victoria. I am distributing indigenous plants, including some local endangered ones as well as few other Aus natives, and undertaking small landscaping jobs using exclusively indigenous/Aus native plants. I flatly refuse to plant any exotics even if it means losing the job! |
RE: Threatened Species
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| The list is on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Site. I believe it is only for NSW, but other affiliates might have a similar list. Yesterday I found a small wahlenbergia growing as a weed in my garden, and I think this was also on the list. Its good to know you are growing something different to everbody else anyway. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Threatened Species Link
RE: Threatened Species
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- Posted by Popi NSW Aust (My Page) on
Sun, Jan 9, 05 at 17:10
| Thanks for posting that, Pos02, I propagate plants, and will definately be on the lookout for threatened sp. although I think there are restrictions on collection of seeds from those plants, in the bush. I will have to look into that too. Of course, it is all in the promotion of the plant, its up to the nurseries to promote them. Thats exciting about your discovery in your garden. Popi |
RE: Threatened Species
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| I believe that Roy meant Austromyrtus gonoclada, in case anyone else has been trying to dig up some details on it. Cheers,
Frank |
Here is a link that might be useful: Austromyrtus gonoclada
RE: Threatened Species
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- Posted by roysta Gosford NSW (My Page) on
Tue, Jan 11, 05 at 8:39
You're right Frank, bit of a typo there, thanks.
The A. gonoclada I have is doing really well.
It's still only small (0.4m), but the new growth is phenomenal.
It even had some little flowers on it recently.
There are varying suggestions on how tall it will be, hope the ones about 18m are wrong. Roy |
RE: Threatened Species
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In regards to the wollemi pine
they are almost ready to sell them in pots
I think the Japanese get first dibs on the pine
but you can register your interest on the royal botanical garden web site but you pay a premimum price for a plant that hasnt got a lot of background info on growing cond etc part of the reason we dont see threatened sp. in nurseries
is that the wild population is small and again there is no info so it could be devestating to take a couple of wild speciemens to propagate only to have both the wild and propagated specimens die
plus most australian gardeners are really english or medditerrean or bali inspired |
RE: Threatened Species
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| A good point regarding the scarcity of genetic material wazcrazy, it is also worthwhile noting that there are very many endangered species that reliable propagation techniques have not been developed for, this is particularly true of many orchid species. The greatest emphasis should be the protection of the wild populations of these species, this comes down to developing a culture of respect for natural ecosystems and as much as I hate to admit, I doubt that changes to gardening culture will alter this. Those people who obsessively collect specimens for their own pleasure are often the worst offenders, in terms of their lack of respect for ecology and biodiversity, I have had too many negative experiences with orchid nuts to trust them in any piece of bush that I look after. If preservation of endangered plants and plant communities is our aim then I think we need to lose the gardening mentality altogether, and instead aim for a sense of custodianship and responsibility for more than our own back(and front)yards. regards, mudlark |
RE: Threatened Species
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- Posted by pos02 NSW Aust (My Page) on
Tue, Jul 5, 05 at 18:56
| I understand what you are saying, but the reasoning behind making the Wollemi Pine readily available was so protect it from complete destruction during bushfires etc. Obviously the marketing potential helped this cause, but I understand it was not the primary reason. I believe these threatened species should not only remain protected in their last piece of native bushland, but should also be grown/studied at the major botannical gardens throughout the country. |
RE: Threatened Species
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| I agree with what you say. For species with only one known population to be grown in other locations to protect them from fire and other threats is highly desirable. However, the species specific focus of this is problematic, what we need to preserve is the interactions that allowed that species to evolve and exist in the first place, and furthermore to allow for its continued evolution. We can't continue on this planet thinking that we are exclusive of the rules of nature, that by somehow merely ensuring that a species still exists somewhere - anywhere - that we are acting responsibly and with good care...I call it the Noah's Ark mentality, or the museum approach to conservation. Do we simply value it as an icon of something past, a remnant of someplace no longer in existence? And what of all of the species that were dependant on that one, did we collect there seed, spores, DNA etc when we collected the seed of our one rare specimen? Is there room in the museum or the arc for all those little bugs, insects and micororganisms, that are just as unique but just didn't grab the imagination of the one species that has such power to determine their fate. Yes, if something happens to the Wollemi Pine we could reintroduce it to its wild habitat, but what of all the other rare and endangered plants and animals and organisms, what threatens them today will still be a threat tomorrow if we don't have a massive rethink on the values and virtues of wild places, because one of the things that threatens them more than wildfire is the ever encroaching spread of 'humanity', and it really doesnt matter to the thousands of organisms that are being displaced in the process whether the gardens those humans create are tropical, mediteranean or native. regards, mudlark |
RE: Threatened Species
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Roysta, I wouldnt be surprised if Gossia gonoclada becomes naturalised down where you are! It may even threaten a local rare species oneday!
I have this critter in my arboretum-it grows well, though I should plant one in full sun.
Threatened species.....the Wollemi Pine isnt going to disapear from the wild. It has been there for ages and is obviously successful or else it wouldnt be there.
Keep the fungus out and it will be fine. Kris |
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