Volunteers Voice - Issue 9 - Dec 2015

Cairns Regional Council - Parks & Leisure

Issue 9 - December 2015

Volunteers Voice This newsletter will be published quarterly, showcasing articles and photographs relating to volunteer activities throughout Council’s Parks & Leisure branch.

In this issue: • Volunteers rewarded • From the editor • Year in review • Volunteer Profile • Friends of Sugarworld • Rotary clean up • Cattana Wetlands & Jabirus • Friends News • Down ‘n’ Dirty • Visitor guides • Feathered Friends • Pollination syndromes • Plant Information • Botanic Gardens News • What’s On

Making a difference in Cairns

Volunteers rewarded

Volunteers were rewarded for their contributions to the Cairns Botanic Gardens and Cattana Wetlands with a field trip to the Botanical Ark, Mossman in September.

As a part of the Parks & Leisure Strategic Plan Cairns Regional Council recognises and rewards its volunteers in a variety of ways. Field Trips are always popular especially to such a prestigious and inspirational place as Alan and Susan Carle’s property.

Thirty volunteers attended from various groups - the Gardens Down ‘n’ Dirty gardeners, Friends’ Shop Volunteers and Field Guides, Little Taccas and the Cattana Wetlands Jabirus. These members spend many hours of their own time beautifying and promoting the Botanic Gardens and Cattana Wetlands and Council wanted to reward them for their time.

Continued Pages 8 & 9

Botanical Ark’s Alan Carle with Judith Pedersen, Lee Ross and Coralie Stuart.

Page 2

Volunteers Voice

Year in review 2015 has been full of events

From the Editor Merry Christmas everyone!

What a year it has been! So many new volunteers, so much achieved and some wonderful events and outings - see article on right and Friends’ president’s message Page 10.

Council rewarded volunteers with a morning tea at Botanical Ark much to the enjoyment of 30 participants. Alan and Susan Carle always inspire. Pages 1, 8 & 9.

Meet the Sugarworld Friends on Page 4. Thank you president Fran Lindsay for writing a few words.

Well done to the Cairns Mulgrave Rotary Club which has had another successful clean up day of the Saltwater Creek see Page 5.

The Jabirus have had a busy couple of months assisting BirdLife Australia with the launch of the new Birds of Cattana Wetlands sign and, on a separate occasion, given a tour to the Cairns Garden Club - Pages 6 & 7.

Meet the Friends Visitor Guides Pages 14 & 15.

And also in this issue, learn about Pollination Syndromes Pages 12 & 13 and the Legume plant family on Pages 14 & 15.

It has been a wonderful year working with you all and I look forward to doing it all over again in the new year!

Louisa

Plant Database Volunteers as well as a fantastic year for Our volunteers continue to attracting new members to spend time assisting staff with the plant database - this is an all groups. ongoing and somewhat slow job Friends of Botanic Gardens and we appreciate your time.

The Friends have had an incredibly busy year - see Down ‘n’ Dirty President’s message on Page This group has 30 consistent 10 - and have reached a total of members with 14 newly 214 members compared to last registered this year. Some of year’s total of 179. Great to have them have stayed with us while others have found work after so many sign up! a short time in the garden Gardeneers congratulations!

Despite working around a construction site for most of We are now averaging 15 each the year the Gardeneers have Wednesday morning and have had successful plant sales been involved in a variety of and donated money towards works throughout the Gardens. plant purchases for the new Jabirus conservatory.

The Cattana Wetlands Jabirus have had an exciting year getting Friends Shop The Friends Shop continues to know Council and Neato staff, to attract volunteers with nine and assisting with the launch of the new BirdLife poster (see regulars and nine casuals.

Some are ‘very casual’ while Pages 6 & 7 for details) and others come in a couple of the growing awareness of many times a week or at a moments community groups. notice.

Little Taccas The newest members are Dona This children’s nature activities Morrison, Barbi Jay, Linda program has become a wellRawson and Rachael Cheong. known name around town and Friends Visitor Guides The Visitor Guides have been busy! There are daily tours of Flecker Monday to Friday at 10.30am.

There are also guides offering paid tours - money donated to the Friends.

For more details see pages 14 & 15.

each program is booked within hours of opening. Thank you to the small group of volunteers who create fun ways to connect children and parents with nature.

Welcome to Denise Neumann, our latest recruit.

Training Thank you to Garden’s staff horticulturalist Keith English Volunteer Education Guide and Interpretive Officer Tony Peter Shanahan continues to Roberts for taking time to deliver educational walks and offer training sessions to our is highly sought after by local volunteers in horticulture and plant idenitfication skills. schools.

Volunteers Voice

Peter Shanahan, volunteer Education Officer and Friends member has a vast knowledge of rainforest environmental relationships and enjoys sharing this with all ages.

New Guinea government to collect for interested zoos. One of his main collections was the Birds of Paradise, which were highly sought after due to their magnificent displays.

“There were very few books on how Following is a small part of a very to care for these birds and through full and interesting life. trials I was able to breed them and Peter, a biologist and entomologist, also pass this knowledge on to was the Cairns Botanic Gardens others.” interpretive officer for 22 years and The Rotterdam Zoo in Holland when he retired a few years ago became a world leader in breeding he was asked to continue sharing endangered species through Peter’s his knowledge with Cairns school support.

After 15 years experience, and with groups.

His love for the environment began New Guinea beginning to close down at a very early age when he grew up to the old ways as independence on a third generation family coffee approached, Peter decided to attend university. plantation in Papua New Guinea.

“As I was knocking down giant trees “At 36 years of age I enrolled in for my father’s plantation I realised the Humboldt State University, they were filled with magnificent and Northern California in the USA. beautiful insects and animals and this is what led me in the direction of studying the environment when I left PNG,” Peter explained.

Page 3

Rockhampton.

“I spent three years in this job and loved every minute of it. I designed and operated the aerial surveillance system and visited and dived on all the reefs. In 1985 Peter transferred to Cairns and was a part of the first team to set up the Cairns and Far Northern section of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

“Back then it was great budgets and no bureaucracy. Bureaucracy came later and it changed everything.”

In 1990 Peter quit the Marine Parks section and took up employment at the Botanic Gardens as the Interpretive Officer.

“My interview consisted of walking through the Gardens and giving a talk on the plants I knew.”

“I loved studying. The professor used to say “Another light comes on in Shanahan’s head” because I had the background knowledge but so “My first job after I left the many unanswered questions.”

When asked what were the major plantation at 21 was as a field officer Peter graduated with a BA Biology, changes he had seen in the years at with Bernice P. Bishop Museum mina in Botany and Zoology, Marine the Gardens, he replied, “It changed in Honolulu and I accompanied Sciences and Oceanography. from being just a garden to a world expeditions into the mountains and “After uni I sent word to my class Botanic Garden. We had little valleys of New Guinea and nearby Australian friends that I was budget back then but plenty of islands to explore and collect all returning (ages 9-19 were spent vision.” species of living things. in a Sydney boarding school) and Part of his role was to develop an “I still have original insects from this was employed with the Forestry education program utilising support collection that I show to schools.

Department in Brisbane as the from other Botanic Gardens and “I worked with the museum for 15 Extension Officer assisting with creating it specifically for the tropics. years and I fell in love with all life, public enquiries - tree inspections, past and present, and the evolution pest management and the like. After “This is what I continue to deliver today as a volunteer education in all its glory. eight months I received a call from officer.

At another stage in his life Peter was Marine Parks who said I’d received also involved in a program financed a job (applied for 12 months prior) “Seeing the children’s eyes light up is by the US Army to collect parasites as a Marine Parks Management one of most magical things I’ve seen to study and assist against possible Officer management of the Barrier in this life. The most important thing disease carriers during the war.

Reef with the first team to set up to me now is to share my knowledge Peter was also nominated by the the Capricornia section based in with the next generation,” Peter says.

Page 4

Volunteers Voice

Friends of Sugarworld Botanic Gardens Inc. member Jim Hill looks a little menacing with that cane knife near these Peacocks but not to worry, he is returning from cutting the sugarcane that was recently planted.

Friends of Sugarworld Botanic Gardens Inc.

The Garden area adjacent to the waterslides is owned by Council and is open every day of the week from 6.30am to 6.30pm. The free covered barbecues are at the northern end of the park and sealed pathways allow easy access The Friends of Sugarworld Botanic for wheelchairs and prams.

Gardens Inc. was formed in December The park area is also home to the All Abilities Playground 2006 and Incorporated in March 2007. – a fenced playground suitable for all children.

The Botanical significance of the Gardens is thanks to A few words from President Fran Lindsay: Curtor David Warmington who ensures that new plant A Memorandum of Understanding is current with varieties are introduced and that the area is suitably Cairns Regional Council and the first of our objectives maintained. New plant labels have been supplied is ‘To stimulate interest and community through Council and twice now our awareness in the activities of the Stimulating interest & Sugarworld Friends have hired a post Sugarworld Botanic Gardens’. hole digger and our volunteers have community awareness installed these.

Sugarworld Friends continue to meet on the third Thursday of each month at in the activities of the A goal for the future would be a 5.30 pm at Hambledon House. However Sugarworld Botanic coloured brochure listing the variety we meet at Sugarworld Gardens in fine of fruit trees that are growing in the Gardens weather to have discussions, taste various gardens so that visitors could ascertain trees in fruit and carry out various maintenance. if the tree is something they might like to plant in their Maintenance varies such as the repainting of the timber own fruit garden. picnic tables/seating adjacent to the public barbecue Further information about Friends of Sugarworld area. These were all replaced recently. We also painted Botanic Gardens Inc can be obtained by contacting Fran Lindsay on 0407 695 891. the handrails on the small footbridge.

Member John Robertson gave us a pruning demonstration one weekend and following that we met as a group to remove much of the mistletoe growing in the fruit orchard section (pictured right).

Although supported by Council we manage our own fundraising for administration or special projects. To raise funds members have sold popcorn, soft drink and had sausage sizzles when the Starry Night movies are showing.

Volunteers Voice

Page 5

Cairns

Wet and muddy for Rotary clean up

1.

Wet and muddy but lots of fun, turned out to be the After all this hard work the barbecue theme of the morning for the Cairns Mulgrave Rotary was a well-earned rest with much Club’s ‘Adopt a Creek’ clean up on Sunday 1 November. needed sustenance at the Freshwater Despite early rains about 20 people turned up for the Lake BBQ area. second event this year to assist in the clean up of all the Future events are planned for next year, around March/ creek banks and pathways alongside Saltwater Creek April. Please contact Roger on 0438 811 166 for further from the Cairns Botanic Gardens, Collins Avenue to information or if you would like to join in.

Pease St (adjacent to Edge Hill State School).

Pictured: 1. Cheryl Williams (Rotary), David Betheras All participants thoroughly enjoyed cleaning up their (Rotary), Laura Le Pape (Down ‘n’ Dirty), Rod Hine community area and the challenge of dragging bag and Heather Johnson from the local community; loads full of rubbish (bottles, cans, broken glass, tidal 2. Annabelle Symes (Friends); 3. Roger Cummings litter, bicycle parts, chairs - you name it!) to the skip bin (Rotary); 4. Odette Aspinall (local community and in Greenslopes Street.

Jabirus volunteer).

2.

3.

4.

This pub sho and vo thro P

In this

• ‘A gr • Fr -g Ga • Ne Co • Vo • Ja • Vo Re M • Pl He • W un • Co gr

• W

Page 6

Volunteers Voice

ed h c n u a l n g i s ’ s land t e W a n a t t a C ‘Birds of University, Bush Heritage, Cairns

Cairns Regional Council and BirdLife Australia launched the new bird sign ‘Birds of the Cattana Wetlands’ in October along with presenting the BirdLife North Australian representative, Golo Maurer.

What a fantastic turnout with up 65 people attending the launch, guided tours and barbecue. Attendees came from Cairns Regional Council, BirdLife Australia, Cattana Wetlands Jabiru volunteers, NEATO members, Dawul Wuru Yirrganydji Rangers, Cairns Birders, James Cook

Volunteers Australia, Kuranda Envirocare, the Wilderness Society and the general community from Mission Beach through to Malanda and Mossman.

Pictured above: (left to right): BirdLife North Australia representative Golo Maurer, Council’s Cattana Wetlands Jabiru volunteer Sandy Long and Yirrganydji Ranger Gavin Singleton who gave the welcome to country fo Dawul Wuru. Right: Cairns Birder Jude Friesen cuts the ribbon.

Below: Tour of the Jabiru Lake.

Volunteers Voice

Cairns Garden Club, first tour The Jabirus were privileged to play host to members of the Cairns Garden Club on Sunday 11 October. The Club was the first group to be given a guided tour through the Cattana Wetland area by the Jabiru volunteers, botanist Sharren Wong and Sandy Long.

Page 7

Jabiru News

As background information, we began with a brief introduction to the history of the area and how it has developed. We then proceeded around the main Jabiru Lake encountering the many and varied native flora around the main Jabiru Lake.

One alert member drew our attention to what was most likely a young spotted python darting along the waters’ edge!

From a botanical point of view, there is always something to see in and around the lakes. At the time of the tour, we were able to see a variety of plants showing characteristic new growth, flowers and some brilliant displays of fruits in various stages of development. The diversity of plant types beans covered in green ants; and the Daintree Cheesetree means there is never a dull time in the wetlands.

Glochidion philippicum, covered in fruit.

The Cairns Garden Club members particularly enjoyed seeing the tail end of the brilliant display of fruit of the Harpullia ramiflora, ‘Tulipwood’. Several species of Syzygium, or Lilly Pillys, were displaying colourful fruit and delicious, new pink growth. We were able to see different examples of Pandanus in fruit and their different growth forms. The Alphitonia, of which there are three different species around the lakes, were full of fruit.

The bright red leaves of the ‘Blue Quandong’ and their brilliant blue fruit was a source of discussion, especially the unique way in which the colour is achieved, ‘The combination of man’s interference...’ Such structural coloration, common in insects and animals but virtually unknown in plants.

We were able to see many plants that produce beautiful flowers and distinctive fruits. Of note were the ‘Brown Gardenia’, Atractocarpus fitzlanii, in flower and fruit; the Native Peanut, Sterculia quadrifida, covered in new fruit; Scarlet Bean, Archydendron lucyi, flowers and bright red

Of special note was a patch of ancient (not rare) epiphytic Psilotum nudum, Whisk Fern, growing at the base of some trees on the side of the track. This is a another good indication of the re-emergence of the native flora as the area continues to recover from past usage and re-establish it’s own unique environment.

The combination of man’s interference to re-establish a more natural environment and aid in recovering from farmed monoculture land use has progressed amazingly in a relatively short period of time. We look forward to witnessing the evolution of this unique area that we are privileged to access and interact with.

Time passed quickly and it was soon time for a well earned break and refreshment. This was arranged by Garden Club group leader Fran Lindsay, and was one of those most-uniquely delicious morning teas provided by imaginative and generous home chefs! Words of thanks to the Jabirus from Fran and her colleagues followed together with great moments of discussing all things botanical and gardening.

The Jabirus

Page 8

Volunteers Voice

1.

Botanical Ark Field Trip - a tropical inspiration

3.

The Botanical Ark is a private 12 hectare entho-botanical garden on the edge of the Daintree rainforest, near Mossman, with over 3,000 species of plants.

Alan and Susan Carle acquired the ‘cattle farm’ property in 1982. It was virtually treeless so their first priority was to improve the soil and then plant trees.

Their vision was to preserve the world’s precious rainforest by collecting new and rare species of tropical fruits and nuts from around the tropical regions. Although they love all tropical plants they focused on plants that Indigenous rainforest cultures have and still use for their foods, spices, shelter, medicine, cosmetics, fibres, oils, dyes and their

2.

everyday needs.

Alan and Susan have travelled extensively from Asia, America and Africa to the Pacific Islands and have lived alongside the Indigenous people of these countries to learn all aspects of these plants so they can share this knowledge to ensure it is not lost.

The Volunteers say “thank-you” to Council and the Carles for a wonderful field trip.

Comments expressed consisted of the various highlights of the property along with the obvious passion and dedication to the environment and Alan and Susan’s enthusiasm in sharing their knowledge amd encouragement of others to follow in their footsteps.

Volunteers Voice

Page 9

4.

5.

Using fresh ingredients from the garden, Susan and her assistants provided us with a scrumptious morning tea of tropical cuisine such as Soursop Cheescake and Papaya Scones, followed by a fascinating tour of the Ark by Alan.

Pictured: 1. At the base of one of the magnificent trees on the property described by Alan as ‘only a baby’; 2. What an incredible display of fruit!; 3.

Purple Saracca; 4. On the tour; 5.

Pat MacConnacher, Sandy Long, Narelle McCullum and Lee Ross gaze up at the ‘Rubber Tree’; 6. The display of fruit caused much discussion; 7. Enjoying the delicious morning tea provided by Susan.

6.

7.

Page 10

Volunteers Voice

Friends’ president’s message: A highlight for the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns this year was our contribution of just over $113,000 to the new Conservatory which opened in September.

Of our 214 members, about 30 or 40 have been very, very active this year.

Gardeneers have propagated weekly and produced plants for sale; guides have shown off our Gardens and birds to Members feel particularly proud when the general public; members have made NEWS IN they visit the facility to know that the our Wednesday evening and Saturday BRIEF attractive signage and many of the morning walks and talks function well; plants, including the beautiful bromeliads shop volunteers have cheerfully given The Friends at the entrance, were purchased from our advice to visitors and sold items in the ‘Gardeneers’ have contribution. shop; the newsletter coordinators have donated plants to With that major expenditure out of the kept us all informed; the library has Council. way – after many years of fundraising – been looked after and botanical data This time they have we now have our eyes on a new project: entered; members have worked hard in the Down ‘n’ Dirty gardening team grown a dozen a Tropical Herb and Spice Garden in vines Aristolochia the Centenary Lakes area with a sensory and helped out with Little Taccas; and pathway that can be used by people with the events sub-group have made Jazz acuminata and disabilities to touch, smell, taste and feel Under the Stars, Carnival on Collins, the Strongylodon Photographic competition and Starry macrobotrys for the the plants.

Nights cinema great successes. new Munro Martin Our Tree Mendus Raffle raised funds to get this underway. The raffle was drawn Our committee has worked to keep Parklands vine at the Christmas Plant Sale on Sunday 6 the Friends organisation going, most arbour.

December. recently drafting a new Memorandum

2016 Program Children’s Nature Activities Program for Children 5 and under.

Ph: 4032 6650 to make bookings.

PROGRAM 1: Bookings open: Monday 15 February Dates: February 25; March 10, 24, 7 PROGRAM 2: Bookings open: Monday 11 April Dates: April 21; May 5, 19; June 2, 16, 30 PROGRAM 3: Bookings open: Monday 4 July Dates: July 14, 28; August 11, 25; September 8, 22 PROGRAM 4: Bookings open: Monday 26 September Dates: October 6, 20; November 3, 17; December 1, 15

Volunteers Voice

of Understanding with the Council that clarifies our roles and responsibilities so that our excellent partnership will proceed as effectively as it can.

Page 11

Support our Volunteers

Phew! What a list of activities our members have been involved in this year. And we mustn’t forget our non-active members who have done their bit by maintaining their membership and adding those important membership dues to our bank balance so we can continue to enhance the gardens. Remember, you can renew your membership for 2016 now.

A fabulous year. I hope to see a lot of you at the Christmas function on Wednesday 9 December, being held on the lawn in front of the conservatory, and wish everyone a lovely Christmas with family and loved ones.

- President Val Schier

Would you like to support the Botanic Gardens?

There are many ways to volunteer; something to suit everyone.

Join the Friends: • Assist on the committee • Greet visitors in the Shop • Become a Visitor Guide • Assist connecting parents and children with nature at Little Taccas • Get Down ‘n’ Dirty with the volunteer gardeners • Assist with the Plant Collection Database • Join Cattana Wetlands Jabirus

Plant Sales, Guided Tours and Friends Shop

The Gardeneers will have their last trolley sale on Wednesday 2 December and resume on Wednesday 3rd February 2016. Sales are held outside the Friends Shop from 9.30am until 11.30am.

The Visitor Guides will hold their last tour on Friday 11 December and return on Monday 29 February.

The Friends Shop will be closed over the Christmas period in line with the Cairns Regional Council shutdown from December 23 and re-open on Monday 5 January. Drop in there are some great gift ideas for Christmas.

Page 12

Volunteers Voice

y t r i D ’ n ‘ n w o D

D

own ‘n’ Dirty have once again had a busy year in the Cairns Botanic Gardens pruning, weeding, mulching and, of course, enjoying the beauty of the tropical surrounds and the new conservatory. They were also given education sessions.

Above: The team of mulchers from left Charles Wang, Wendy Russell, Pat MacConnacher, Lydia Roehrig, Daniel Fischer, Ric Streatfield, Judy Pedersen, Rhonnie Lavater, Gary Abbott and Alex Edwards.

Left: Ric Streatfield, Wendy Russell and Linda Rawson pruning Heliconias.

Volunteers Voice

Top left: Down ‘n’ Dirty member Leonie Sequeira discussing plants with Friends’ Gardeneers Mary Gandini and Nanette Fairbairn.

Above left: Digging out Crows

Foot weed from the front lawn on a hot and humid morning.

Above right: Alex Edwards admiring the Amorphophallus paeoniifolius inflorescence emerging from the

Page 13

ground in the warm conditions.

Below: Gardens’ horticulturalist Keith English delivered training once a month this year to the Down ‘n’ Dirty and Jabiru volunteers.

Page 14

Volunteers Voice

Sandy Long (left)

Peter Shanahan

Visitor Guides passionate about Gardens The Gardens have a number of Friends and volunteers who love to share their passion for the Gardens and their knowledge of plants.

Friends Visitor Guides, organiser Colin Batch, Del Van Mierlo, Tony Cuming, Bill King and Sandy Long give free daily tours of Flecker Gardens from Monday to Friday at 10am starting at the Friends Shop.

Sandy Long offer paid tours for groups throughout the week. “All of us love the Gardens and showing visitors and locals around, we all have our own personal favourite areas to show case and talk about,� says Lee.

John Seale gives guided bird tours on Tuesday mornings from 8.30am and Peter Shanahan provides Friends Lee Ross, Norma Wright, Coralie Stuart and educational tours for schools (see article Page 3).

Colin Batch

John Seale

Volunteers Voice

Page 15

Feathered Friends It is the time of year when these noisy black birds are skip, hop and jumping noisily through our gardens and, of course, Cattana Wetlands in droves. A sure sign that even summer will soon break loose even for the lower half of Australia ,as most of the birds we see now are ‘just passing through’.

Bill King (centre)

Despite their somewhat disrespectful name, Drongos are a very stately bird throning on top of trees as if they’d swallowed a broom stick in their shiny Melbourne-black plumage.

They can be distinguished from similar species such as the Metallic Starling (also migratory, of course) by their bi-furcated ‘fish’ tail.

On their way south, as far as North-East Victoria, they are on the lookout for wet forests (but not too dense please) where they can ply their trade of catching insects in flight. They lack the elegance of, for instance Rainbow Bee-eater, but not the efficiency. In fact, little bristles around the bill act like a funnel to guide their unhappy victims to their fate.

While unpopular with insects, birds, especially smaller ones, may take a more positive view of these noisy summer visitors. Perched on their commanding view points, they are often the first to spot danger and they will let you know about it too, making them effective sentinels.

Make sure you see this backyard spectacle of migration and get out to Cattana Wetlands to catch these Royal Drongos on their journey.

Tony Cuming

If you would like to learn more about birds join one of BirdLife NQ outings: http://www.birdlifenq.org/

Page 16

Volunteers Voice

Hort. Notes

P

Pollination syndromes

ollen may be moved by either biotic (animal) or abiotic (wind and water) vectors. The set of unique flower and pollen traits that adapt a plant for pollination by a particular vectory is its pollination syndrome.

Insects: Insects are the most important pollinators of flowering plants.

They visit the flowers to collect nectar or pollen or both and at the same time, incidentally transfer some pollen from one flower to another. Insects locate flowers by odour and then are influenced by colour or shape.

drink the nectar, and is deposited on the stigma of the next flower it visits.

Flowers which are visited by nocturnal insects have less showy corollas but are often strongly scented.

Other flowers are brown in colour and smell like carrion and attract flies which pollinate them.

Some flowers may get robbed of their nectar by insects which do not pollinate them. Some plants have therefore developed complex structures that prevent all but specific insects species from reaching the nectar and getting pollen deposited on them, which is transferred to the stigma of the next flower they visit.

Mammals: Animal pollinators visit flowers for some reward, and only incidentally transfer pollen. The most common rewards are pollen and nectar, but sometimes they are waxes or oils. Some flowers are pollinated by small mammals such as bats and rodents.

These flowers do not tend to have any common characteristics because many different types of insects have very different ways of pollinating flowers e.g. bees (the most common insect pollinators), butterflies, Characteristics: moths, beetles and wasps.

Many insect-pollinated flowers have bright colours • Strong scented flowers e.g. those that attract mice have a yeasty odour. and also petals with nectar guides which contain UV absorbing pigments. The nectar guides lead the insect • Often brown or white in colour. towards the nectar - the reward the insect receives for • Quite sturdy in structure in order to bear the vigorous activity of the small mammals while they visiting the flower. Pollen is deposited on the insect are feeding on the nectar they provide. from the stamens when it visits the flower to collect or • Offer their mammal pollinators a reward of large amounts of nectar.

Birds: Bird-pollinated flowers are much more common than mammal pollinated flowers.

Two large groups of birds that pollinate flowers are the sunbirds of Africa and Asia and the Hummingbirds of the Americas. Both groups of birds have long beaks which allow them to reach inside the corolla tubes of flowers, attracted by the presence of copious nectar.

Hummingbirds are well known for their ability to hover in front of the flowers while drinking the nectar.

Sunbirds however sit on the flower stalk and collect the nectar.

Volunteers Voice

Page 17

Type of Pollinator Trait

Bat

Bee

Beetle

Bird

Butterfly

Fly

Moth

Wind

Odour

Birds seem to be mainly attracted to red flowers, but • Many flowers packed into a inflorescence. they visit other colours if nectar is available.

• Have large stigmas.

• Large, well exposed anthers.

Characteristics:

• Often red, orange or yellow corollas, calyx, bracts or Water: Pollination by water is not common but a stamens which are attractive to birds. few plants release their pollen into the water which is • Not usually scented because most birds do not have passively carried to other flowers by water currents. a well developed sense of smell.

• Provide a large amount of nectar as a reward.

Wind: Many flowers are wind pollinated. It is not an efficient method of pollination because much pollen must be produced with the hope that some of it may land on a receptive stigma of the right species.

Plants pollinated by wind include conifers, she-oaks and grasses and many northern hemisphere trees such as birches, alders and oaks. These plants produce large quantities of pollen and release it into the air, and it may float or be blown onto a compatible stigma. The stigmas of wind-pollinated plants are commonly large and feathery, which gives them a better chance of trapping pollen.

Characteristics: • Huge amounts of non sticky pollen.

• Often lack a large and showy calyx or corolla.

Page 18

Volunteers Voice

Plant Information: Fabaceae / Leguminosae

Legume, pea or bean family

The Fabaceae (Leguminosae), commonly known as the legume, pea or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants.

The five largest of the 630 legume genera are Astragalus (over 2,000 species), Acacia (over 1000 species), Indigofera (around 700 species), Crotalaria (around 700 species), and Mimosa (around 500 species), which constitute about a quarter of all legume species. About 18,000 legume species are known, amounting to about seven per cent of flowering plant species respectively.

annual herbaceous plants, which are easily recognised by their fruit (legume) and their compound leaves, often pinnate or bipinnate, sometimes palmate.

Fabacaeae (Leguminosae) is separated into 3 subfamilies: Faboideae (eg: pea), Caesalpinioideae (eg: Bauhinia) and Mimosoideae (eg: Wattle).

A number are important agricultural and food plants, including Glycine max (soybean), Phaseolus (beans), Pisum sativum (pea), Cicer arietinum (chickpeas), Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Arachis hypogaea (peanut), Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea), Ceratonia siliqua (carob), and Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice).

The group is widely distributed and is the third-largest land plant family in Pictured: top left: Ormosia ormondii; top terms of number of species, behind right: Bauhinia vahlii; centre: Gigasiphon only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, macrosiphon; bottom left: Brownea with 630 genera and over 18,860 species. macrophylla; bottom centre: Maniltoa lenticellata; bottom This family includes trees, shrubs, and perennial or right: Mucuna gigantea; back page: Delonix regia.

Volunteers Voice

Page 19

Botanic Gardens News

Chinese Friendship Garden

The Chinese Frienship Garden was opened on Saturday 21 November in recognition of the important and close friendship between Cairns and Zhanjiang which became Sister Cities in 2004.

The design of this garden incorporates a number of traditional features in a contemporary style.

The entry pillars announce ‘arrival’ and are adorned with the graphic motifs of traditional cloud patterns of Zhanjiang.

The boulders of Chillagoe marble have been individually selected for their colour and form and are sited in relation to the surrounding hills, acknowledging the importance of rocks and mountains in Chinese garden culture.

The Moon Gate inscription in carved granite simply

says ‘Friendship Garden’ and the carved granite dogs at the entrance to the pavilion represent the ancient dog sculptures unique to the area of Zhanjiang on the Leizhou Peninsula and symbolise protection and virility.

The garden includes plants of Chinese and Australian origin. Many have been selected for their colour to complement the auspicious and significant use of red in Chinese culture and the relationship that many of our plants share across large areas of the world, especially bamboos that symbolise resoluteness, honourability and chastity.

Mt Whitfield new ‘Greeen Arrow’ Mt Whitfield’s ‘Green Arrow’ track has been open for the past couple of months and is already popular with the locals and visitors alike.

This new 3.5km track connects with the ­existing ‘Blue Arrow’, and traverses Mt Whitfield ridge to join with Whitfield’s Bel-air and East Parkridge drives.

Some sections of the track offer hikers 360-degree views. This is a great way to experience the rainforest without having to leave the city.

Pictured left: view from the Green Arrow walking track.

Cairns Regional Council - Parks & Leisure

Volunteers Voice

Christmas Wishes

Cairns Regional Council Parks & Leisure Branch wish our volunteers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for all your wonderful contributions to our gardens and parklands. We value your time, effort and passion for our gardens, wetlands and reserve areas

What’s On Bird Walks: John Seale’s free weekly tours, every Tuesday, leaving the Friends House at 8.30am.

‘Gardeneers’ Trolley Plant Sales: every Wednesday morning from 9.30am-11.30am outside the Friends House. Please note their last sale for December 2015 is Wednesday 2 and will resume on Wednesday 3 February.

Garden Guided Walks: Monday to Fridays at 10am. Contact the Friends House on 4032 3900 to confirm. Note: the last tour will be on Friday 11 December and will resume on Monday 29 February.

The Down ‘n’ Dirty and Jabirus volunteer groups will finish the week of December 7 and resume in the first week of February.

Christmas Closure Dates: The Friends Shop, Gardeneers Trolley Sales and Visitor Guide Tours will be closed over the Christmas break.

Dates on Page 11.

NOTE: Front Page Photo of Botanic Gardens Conservatory - Volunteers Voice Issue 8 September: Photo Courtesy of Robert Gesink

Cairns Regional Council PO Box 359, Cairns Q 4870 Australia.

07 4032 6650 Cairns Botanic Gardens 64 Collins Ave, Edge Hill, Cairns Q 4870, Australia 4032 6650 Friends of the Botanic Gardens, Cairns 4032 3900

Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with all events Cairns Botanic Gardens and Friends of the Botanic Gardens

Interested in Volunteering?

There is something to suit everyone. If you are interested in supporting any of the following volunteer programs please contact Volunteers Supervisor Louisa Grandy on 4032 6648. Opportunities include: • Plant Collection Database • Tuesdays - Cattana Wetlands Jabirus • Wednesdays - Botanic Gardens Down ’n’ Dirty Volunteers • Children’s Nature Activities Program - Little Taccas.

For Friends of the Botanic Gardens membership details email info@botanicfriendscairns.com.au or telephone 4032 3900. If you are interested please ask how you can offer your support such as working in the Friends Shop, becoming a Visitor Guide or assisting with one of their events.

Contributions: Please submit articles (must be volunteer or plant based) by February for the next quarterly publication in March.

Email: l.grandy@cairns.qld.gov.au. Please note articles are subject to editing.