Bush For LifeSpring 2008Number 1

The Bushcarer

You are one of 668 bushcarers actively managing 341 Bush For Life sites encompassing more than 4000ha of bushland in South Australia

By MARK ELLIS

Bush For Life Manager

While all Trees For Life members receive a copy of

our quarterly magazine ReLeaf, the Bush For Life team felt that a forum was needed to provide our regular bushcarers with up to date information on technical issues and more information to guide bushcare activities.

Therefore, Trees For Life is pleased to present to you the first edition of the new Bush For Life newsletter. This newsletter will be released twice a year, in spring and autumn, and will contain technical information about the native plants and weeds you may encounter on your sites, site case studies to demonstrate how people are approaching issues on their sites to hopefully inspire you, and any other timely updates.

Group ActivitiesBush For Life volunteers have

been undertaking works at their own pace and schedule on their adopted sites for many years. This model works well for some people, who like working on their own or together with one or two others, and can be fitted into their own schedule.

However we realise the need to provide more opportunities for bushcarers to work with

others on sites, under the guidance of our skilled regional coordinators. Some regional coordinators have been running local working bees for years, getting together a group of local carers and visiting either the same site regularly or different sites each time.

To enable bushcarers to take part in a wider range of activities, visit new sites and meet other like minded volunteers, we are now publishing a comprehensive schedule of group activities three times a year (none in summer when it’s too hot!). This way we can let a wider group of people know about activities that are in their area, or encourage them to visit a new area.

Basically there are three types of group activities you can take part in:

• Bush Action Teams (BATs): groups of 10-12 volunteers and two supervisors who meet at Brooklyn Park and go in the BAT bus to a site for a day’s work in the bush.

• Bush Management Days: small groups of 4-5 volunteers and a supervisor who visit the same site regularly for a days on-ground work.

• Mini-BATs: small groups of 2-5 volunteers and your local Regional Coordinator meeting to do a few hours work on a site.

If you would like to be involved in any of the above activities, refer to the Group Activities brochure and contact the coordinator

Welcome to the new BFL newsletter

Contact usThe Bushcarer is a production of Trees For Life.

If you would like to help us save paper by receieving this by email, please let us know.

Trees For Life

5 May Tce

Brooklyn Park 5032

Ph: 8406 0500

Fax: 8406 0599

info@treesforlife.org.au

running the activity.

Resources on the webDon’t forget that many of

the articles already published in previous editions of ReLeaf, as well as other fact sheets, are available on our website: www.treesforlife.org.au

In the Bush For Life section, follow the prompts �� �urollow the prompts �� �ur programs �� Conservation �� Fact sheets.

Species Identification - Acacia

pinnate leaf

flattened phyllode

Figure 1. Acacia pycnantha (golden wattle) seedling with pinnate leaves and broad, flat phyllodes.

By MAURICE ROCHE

BFL Field Officer

The largest genus of flowering plants in Australia is Acacia

(wattles), family Leguminosae.An estimate of more than

660 species occur in Australia and dominate the Australian landscape, particularly in the arid regions.

Their seed is dispersed mainly by ants and birds.

Traditionally and currently, the seed, timber, bark and gum of many Acacia spp. are utilised for food, drugs, tanning, building and toolmaking products, firewood, shelter, decoration and aesthetic plantings.

Settlers over the last 200 years have moved Acacia spp. around with little regard to their place in natural ecosystems or the negative impact of their introduction on the maintenance of local diversity.

Leaf morphologyAs seedlings, Acacia spp.

have pinnate leaves (see Figure 1 below). However, in all but one group of the seven groups identified by Whibley and

Symon (1992) in their key to identifying South Australian Acacia spp., the pinnate leaves are not expressed on the mature plant. Instead, phyllodes (or leaf stalks) that are flattened and function as leaves, have been selected by evolutionary pressures.

Feral Acacias in the Mount Lofty Ranges

Weedy Acacias in the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR) include members of the group with true leaves such as the bipinnate *Acacia baileyana (Cootamundra wattle) and *Acacia dealbata (silver wattle) from the eastern states. Weed species in the MLR with flattened phyllodes that do not express pinnate (or

bipinnate) leaves on mature specimens include *Acacia iteaphylla (Flinders Ranges wattle) and *Acacia saligna (golden wreath wattle) from Western Australia. These plants escape into bushland from gardens and misguided direct seeding projects and are dispersed by ants and birds.

Differentiating *Acacia saligna from A. pycnantha in the field

*Acacia saligna is very difficult to distinguish (particularly as a seedling or juvenile) from the local and widespread Acacia pycnantha (golden wattle), Australia’s floral emblem. Since both species have broad, flattened phyllodes, the feature most useful to differentiate them in the field is the position of the glands (secreting structures) located on their phyllodes.

Although both species carry glands on the upper margin of the phyllode, on Acacia pycnantha, the gland is located further from the axil (where it joins the stem) than on *Acacia saligna (see Figures 2 and 3). Sometimes A. pycnantha has a second gland above the midpoint on the upper margin of the phyllode.

TreatmentIf you have determined that

a suspect Acacia is indeed *A. saligna, the best way to despatch it is to drill and fill it as you would an olive. Since Acacias do not have a lignotuber, drill the trunk,

working close to the ground, below any branching. Direct a herbicide stream into each drill hole from the applicator bottle rather than inserting the tube of the bottle into each hole. This ensures that the holes are filled with herbicide and not foam.

Do not cut and swab, as some practitioners have found that cut stumps resprout vigorously. Small specimens can be hand-pulled when the soil is moist. Place a foot either side close to the stem to keep the soil in place and with your head up, pull by straightening your legs in order to eliminate the risk of back injury.

References:Robertson, M. (2005),

Stop Bushland Weeds: A guide to successful weeding in South Australia’s bushland, The Nature Conservation Society of South Australia Inc., Adelaide.

Watton, P. (2007), pers. comm.

Whibley, D.J.E. & Symon, D.E. (1992), Acacias of South Australia, The Flora and Fauna of South Australia Handbooks Committee, South Australia.

Identification, management of Acacia saligna axil

gland

Figure 2. Acacia pycnantha gland distant from the axil.

axil

gland

Figure 3. Acacia saligna gland close to the axil.

Supported by

Site Case Study - Texas Needle Grass

By LEANNE LAWRENCE

BFL Regional Coordinator

Texas Needle Grass (Nassella leucotricha) is one of six

Nasella species introduced to Australia from the Americas and has been listed as a Weed of National Significance due to its potential to invade large areas of temperate native grassland, displacing native grasses and forbs.

TNG was first recorded on the Fleurieu Peninsula in 2000. Areas within the �nkaparinga Gorge National Park and the township of Clarendon have been identified as TNG locations with several populations recorded (�bst 2004).

Field surveys by �bst and How (2004) identified a total of 237ha with established TNG populations within the greater Mount Lofty Ranges.

The genus Nassella is part of the Stipoideae tribe which also includes the Australian native genus Austrostipa and can often be confused in the field.

TNG was identified on Glenloth Reserve Bush For Life site in late 2007 while panicle seed was present. It was quickly made the highest priority for action.

Glenloth Reserve is a 4ha site that contains remnant Grey Box woodland and open grassy Red Gum woodland. The grassy areas of the reserve are mowed regularly and it is suspected that TNG was introduced on mowing machinery, as the reserve had been visited on the ‘mowing run’ after a known infestation at Clarendon.

The TNG was found among a native grass community containing Austrostipa spp., Austrodanthonia spp. and Chloris truncata and appeared to be concentrated in the area of primary infection but was

spreading to other parts of the reserve, with outlier plants found elsewhere on the reserve.

TNG is a C3 (cool season) perennial tussock grass with the potential to invade large areas of temperate native grasslands displacing native grasses and forbs. It has all the attributes to qualify it as a serious weed threat including:

• High seed production - significant amounts of viable seed can be produced twice in a season; self fertilised “cleistogene” seeds are formed at the base of the tussock and along the flower stem; seed dispersal is via machinery, animals and water.

• Soil stored seed remains viable for several years.

• Adult plants are long lived and plants can germinate and flower in first season.

• It is a strong competitor adapted to a wide range of climatic conditions.

The StrategyPositive identification was

made with the assistance of Andy Raymond from the AMLR NRM Board. Being a proclaimed species, it was important to report its occurrence.

The whole 4ha site was initially searched intensively for TNG plants, with the main population defined with marker stakes and outliers tagged.

Individual plants were then spot sprayed with Glyphosate 1:100 ensuring no off-target damage to native grasses (slashing was not an option as this would have facilitated seed spread).

�ne week after spraying individual tussocks were hand cut removing seed stems at the base and the cut debris removed from the site for secure disposal (NB it is very important this material does not find its way to other sites through green waste)

Any individuals missed during first treatment have been spot sprayed on later visits.

The site is now monitored regularly for recruitment of new plants, and all new seedlings are spot sprayed.

In cooperation with the council, the main infestation site

is now excluded from mowing to prevent further spread of TNG and to allow native grass species to set seed. The use of minimal disturbance methods and the high percentage of native grasses means that natural regeneration of native grass populations will occur into areas formerly occupied by TNG, and provide an effective competition against reestablishment of this pest.

A long term integrated management strategy has now been formulated to remove TNG from Glenloth Reserve. While the population is small and is isolated to one area of the reserve the chances of eradicating TNG are now very high.

ReferencesDepartment of Primary

Industries Victoria, 2007 ‘National Best Practice Management Manual Chilean Needle Grass’

Victorian Government Department of Primary Industries.

Obst C. and How T. (2004) Field survey results for Chilean needlegrass [Nassella neesiana (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth] and Texas needlegrass [Nassella leucotricha (Trin. & Rupr.) R.W.Pohl] in the Mt. Lofty Ranges, Fleurieu Peninsula and greater Adelaide regions of South Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly 19 (2) pp 67-68.

www.ecovoice.com.au/issues/issue%206/6Grow.pg27.pdf

Eradicating Texas Needle Grass in Glenloth Reserve

Texas Needle Grass Seed. Austrostipa Seed.

1cm 1cm

Figure 2. Look for distinct crown or corona on TNG where awn joins the seed with tufts of hair at the top. Austrostipa seed does not have a crown.

Figure 1. Nassella leucotricha.

Corona with ring of hairs

BFL Support Team

BFL Manager Mark EllisBFL Operations Manager (South) Peter Watton

BFL Operations Manager (North) Andrew Allanson

BFL Support Oficer Samantha Buxton - 8406 0542

BFL Bush Action Team Coordinator Garry Forrest - 8406 0551

BFL Private Lands Support Officer Kerry McInnes - 8406 0566

BFL Regional Coordinators, from left: Leanne Lawrence, Peter Watton, Tom Bradley, Angela Cullen, Randall Bates, Petra Wilden, Kay Homes, Kerry McInnes, Ginenne Eylander, Kym Smith, Andrew Allanson, Maurice Roche, Garry Forrest, Sue Bradstreet and Margie Barnett.

Do you know your regional coordinator?

Program managers and staff