Newsletter No. 54 July 1998
Dear Friends
A cold, windy but dry day was our lot for the July meeting with scattered Golden Wattle blossom brightening the scene. The tree planting on Howlong Road was completed by many willing hands. After morning tea at Depot block we filled in a few spaces with the remaining trees. The trees planted there in May are doing well. The kangaroos are giving the ones in the reclaimed area a really hard time despite the guards and the fact that there is plenty of grass. It was too open and windy at Bartley’s block so we retired to the Indigo Cemetery for lunch and a meeting.
With many keen eyes and feet, Yes Feet! we turned up a couple of interesting specimens. One was a fungus the other an orchid somewhat out of season. To the fungus first. As we were packing up the planting gear on the Howlong Road we paused to look at some regenerating Golden Wattles amongst our planting when Lisa kicked a goal! The fruiting body of a Latttice or Basket fungi exploded at her feet looking like a piece of cream plastic litter. It was wet, slimy and smelly. This distinctive fungi belongs to the Phalloid group and is related to the puff-balls.
The fruiting body develops in a sac like a puff-ball. At maturity the sac ruptures and the spore bearing “basket” emerges. Instead of the usual powdery spores associated with puff-balls there is a foul smelling slime which contains the spores. Blowflies and other insects consume this slime and the spores are spread after passing through the insect. Our species was Clathrus cibarius or C. gracilis. Shown here with the ‘egg’ from which it emerges.
The colour of the spores determines the species and that needs to be determined by viewing through a high powered microscope. According to Young, C.gracilis is the more common. The “basket” has been dried to try to establish the species. Well done Lisa. Source of information: Australian Fungi, Bruce Fuhrer. It is an excellent field guide.
After lunch Neville shouldered the ladder and we trooped off to locate and examine two sets off nest logs. Set one was empty. Set two was known to have had one log with a resident Squirrel Glider. This must be well sited for curled up in the base was a glider. The rest of the set was empty. The sharp eyes of Philip {again} found a nice specimen of Pterostylis revoluta, the Autumn Greenhood flowering in mid-winter! According to Backhouse and Jeanes, this species often forms masses of leaves with few flowering stems. There were masses of leaves at this site.
The animal in the beer bottle, found by Philip at the last meeting, was a Yellow-footed Antechinus.
From the meeting:
1. Proposal from Jim Blackney, Trust for Nature, that Friends apply for funding to fence a bushland reserve close to the park which contains good Ironbark and Red Box. Members were in favour.
2.Gary and Lisa sold some of our merchandise at the Goulburn Valley F.N. AGM. Thank you.
3.Threatened species day, September 7th. Ideas please.
4. Chiltern Tourism will be running an “Ironbark Festival” in October from 17th-25th. Friends who wish to contribute to this please let me know.
5. Sale of cans raised $34.
6. Vic-roads has given permission for us to use the enclosed display board at the Ironbark rest area to promote the Regent H/e and the park.
7. Format and food for the AGM was discussed. Details below.
8. Accounts were passed for payment.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF FRIENDS AUGUST 1ST
Meet at CYANIDE DAM at 1pm for a walk. Tea and meeting at 5.30pm at the Senior Citizens Hall in Conness Street.
Pizza and quiche tea and coffee supplied. Members please bring a salad to share.
Following the meeting at 7pm members of the public are invited to our “ Hot and Cold” evening presentation.
Dr.Neil Blair will speak about his trip to Antarctica and Glen Johnson will present an account of his 1997 Adventures in Northern Territory and Western Australia.
To assist with catering please register your intention to attend by Monday July 27 th to 57 261 484 Thank you.
JOIN THE DOTS FOR GREY-CROWNED BABBLERS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WEEKEND PLANTING ON JULY 25-26 HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
August 8-9th will go ahead. Meet at 10.am on corner of Murray Valley Highway and Boorahaman East Rd.
Bring tools, food and a friend! Enquiries to : Doug at 57 632 318.
Doug Robinson would like to hear of any sightings of Apostle Birds on the Victorian side of the Murray.