The BMCS Plant Study Group (PSG) generally meets on the second Sunday of each month and travels to different locations in the Blue Mountains. Before attending for the first time please contact Meredith by email at mountains@westnet.com.au. Changes to the program appear in red.

Plant Study Group 2024 Program

Notes: *Outing is a week earlier than usual. **Additional outing.

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13 Jan	Mount Bindo, Hampton   Sue Nicol  report
10 Feb	Mt Victoria TBA   Alison Hewitt
24 Feb	Deanei Reserve, Springwood   Meredith Brownhill Plant Id with Bushcare Group
9 Mar	Pt Pilcher, BM National Park   Meredith Brownhill  report
23 Mar	Hampton private property   Meredith Brownhill  report

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13 Apr	Glenbrook Lagoon   Ros King & Valentin Siderskiy with guest speaker  report
11 May	Eucalypts with the aid of “Smith & Smith” classifier   Don Cameron
8 Jun	Cumberland Plains   Meredith Brownhill & Alison Hewitt Bus Trip

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13 Jul	Murphy’s Glen, Woodford   Jelena Emmerick
10 Aug	Yoogali Fire Trail, East Blaxland   Margaret Baker
14 Sep	TBA

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12 Oct	Long Swamp, Nth Lawson   Jo Newman
9 Nov	Birrabang Ridge, BM National Park   Sue Nicol
TBA Nov	Boyd River Crossing   Meredith Brownhill Bus trip
14 Dec	TBA - Christmas Lunch

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EXTRA EVENTS:

11 Apr

Thirlmere Lakes Bus trip with Thursday Walkers Bookings: contact Maurice - M/P 0402 402 783

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2024 Reports  (click image to see a larger version)

13 April - Glenbrook Lagoon

On a sunny autumn day 10 members walked around Glenbrook lagoon identifying aquatic plants, which were new to some of us. The lagoon was full with water so we walked on the perimeter with swathes of a tall grey – blue rush growing in the water adjacent to us. Lepironia articulata only grows in Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains and as far south as Thirlmere Lakes in Australia.

The new floating island for Eastern Snake-necked Turtles (Chelodina longicollis) was occupied by Ducks and a Darter drying its wings.

There were many species of Eucalypts around the lagoon - some were planted and not endemic to the area, so identification kept us all busy.

Leader Ros King; Report: Meredith Brownhill

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23 March - Good Forest/Hampton

Members keen to explore further west visited a friend’s private property on the eastern slopes of the tableland ranges. The property is regenerating following the removal of cattle with the regrowth of Eucalypt Woodlands and native grasses such as Microlaena stipoides.

The shrub layer was sparse. A population of Acacia gunnii, a plant of the higher tablelands was doing well, and a good diversity of ground covers such as Goodenia hederacea in flower indicates future recovery.

Happily we sat under a tree to complete the morning's survey with a good cuppa, good company and wonderful views across the valley towards the Blue Mountains.

Leader, Report: Meredith Brownhill

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9 March - Medlow Bath

Our largest group ever of 17 members started the day by spraying our shoes with 70% Methylated Spirit to kill Phytopthora cinnamomi fungal spores on our shoes and protect the vegetation from root rot.

We walked through Eucalyptus oreades Open Forest in Medlow Bath with tall white tree trunks around us inspiring our interest. They are cold climate trees so are very vulnerable to the warming climate.

We visited E. piperita, E. radiata, E. blaxlandii Woodlands and finally, at Pt. Point Pilcher enjoyed views of spectacular sandstone cliffs with flowering Corymbias on the slopes in the valley. After lunch in the shade we strolled to a small swamp which completed our day of great floristic diversity.

Leader, Report: Meredith Brownhill

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13 January - Mt Bindo

The first outing for 2024, on our new day of the 2nd Saturday of the month, attracted 9 members.

We took three cars for the drive to Mt Bindo which is in the Hampton State Forest and has an altitude of 1360m. We were lucky to have a warm, sunny day as two days later it was 11° and drizzling.

As we drove up through the pine forest the air cooled a little to 24°. We stopped to examine the first plant of interest, the low, spreading Persoonia acuminata, which is found only on the higher parts of the tableland. It grows in profusion on the upper slopes of Mt Bindo. On very rocky slopes we saw an unusual form of Platysace lanceolata.

We finally emerged from the pines into native eucalypt forest and snow gum woodland (Eucalyptus pauciflora) on the upper slopes and summit area. The ground cover included Stellaria pungens and bracken ferns.

We had seen signs warning us that we would be under surveillance at the summit, where there are various installations and observation towers. Sure enough while sitting eating our lunch we were visited by a security guard, curious to know what a bunch of people were doing hanging round the base of the towers. He would have realised instantly that none of us mainly older women had plans to scale the ladders!

Leader, Report: Sue Nicol