Blue Mountains Conservation Society - The Plant Study Group

Blue Mountains Conservation Society

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The Plant Study Group

Chloanthes glandulosa

Calochilus robertsonii

Corybus pruinosis

Actinotus forsythii

photos
by
Robin Murray

click image
to see a
larger version

The Plant Study Group
photo by Margaret McJannett
click image to see a larger version

The Plant Study Group met for the first time on 17th April 2005 at the Conservation Hut.

Members of the Plant Group are all enthusiastic plant lovers with a desire for more knowledge about Blue Mountains native plants.

We endlessly delight in the beauty, mysteries and complexity of plants.

We work as a group in the field and share our discoveries, so we learn together and there is not any formal teaching.

Our aim is to learn plants, so we study the botanical structures of flowers, leaves and fruits, noting their habitat needs, plant community and fire effects etc.

Our botanical studies have brought our eye in, to sharply observe many small things, such as tiny spiders inside orchids.

One of our yearly joys is to visit the Bathurst Copper Butterfly and its specialized ecosystem.

The Copper Butterfly, Paralucia spinifera, likes the plant Bursaria spinosa ssp. lasiophylla as habitat and has a mutually agreeable relationship with an ant called Anonychomyra itineras.

This is a species specific relationship and just any ant or any Bursaria, is just not good enough!

Copper Butterfly
photo by Robin Murray
click image to see a larger version

Leucopogon fletcheri ssp fletcheri
photo by Robin Murray
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A new and exciting research project is developing from our discovery of a small population of Leucopogon fletcheri ssp fletcheri in Winmalee.

L. fletcheri had just been burnt in a hazard reduction fire in 2009 and as the plant is endangered, we are setting up an annual survey to study the impacts of fire on the species, which we hope will assist NPWS, Council and the RFS with fire management.

Another Spring discovery is the rare Snow Daisy, Celmisia sp. aff. longifolia flowering amongst swamp plants, also in flower, beside the walking track from Govett's Leap to Pulpit Rock during November.

The Redspot Dragonfly, Austropetalia patricia, can be seen in the vicinity of waterfalls, either hanging on plants or flying on sunny days.

The Redspot Dragonfly
photo by Robin Murray
click image to see a larger version

Chloanthes glandulosa
photo by Robin Murray
click image to see a larger version

We meet once a month and travel to different locations in the mountains, enabling us to see a diversity of species and plant communities.

If you are interested in joining us, to get started, it is necessary to have a familiarity with local plants in Native Plants of the Blue Mountains, by M. Baker & R. Corringham. Beginners are welcome.

The Plant Study Group is open to members of the Society.

Enquiries to Meredith 4782 4823 after 5pm.