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BUDAWANGIA* AN E-NEWSLETTER FOR ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE NATIVE PLANTS OF THE NSW SOUTH COAST

Contact: Dr Kevin Mills k.mills@bigpond.net.au

No. 14 - May 2013

Aims: To connect those interested in the native flora of the NSW South Coast, to share up to date information on the flora of the region and to broaden the

appreciation of the regions native plants. Editorial

This edition is all about figs; no not the edible Mediterranean kind, the native figs of the South Coast.

Newsletter Number 10 contained a few notes on these figs; this edition contains some more detailed

information. Large old fig trees are scattered across the paddocks from Wollongong to Berry and

tower above the rainforest canopy along the escarpment to the west. Native figs are also planted and

occasionally natural further to the south. The large old Small-leaved Fig at Milton is a prominent

landmark near the northern end of the town. Figs are our most impressive trees, at least in my view.

These large old veterans deserve protection and nurturing as an important element of the regions

landscape and a reminder of the rainforests of the past.

Other members of the fig family, Moraceae, are also discussed. The mystery weed from last month is

revealed, and as promised, I have included the authentic recipe for Italian pesto.

If you have a plant question, let us know and we will find an answer for you. I would be pleased to

receive appropriate articles, however small, on interesting observations, new discoveries, plant name

changes, etc., up to two A4 pages, including some photographs.

I shall collect plants and fossils, and with the best of instruments make astronomic observations. Yet

this is not the main purpose of my journey. I shall endeavor to find out how nature's forces act upon

one another, and in what manner the geographic environment exerts its influence on animals and

plants. In short, I must find out about the harmony in nature.

Baron Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), Prussian geographer, naturalist and explorer,

whos quantitative work on botanical geography laid the foundation for the field of biogeography.

Kevin Mills, Jamberoo, NSW.

Tel. 02 4236 0620

* Budawangia is a monotypic, endemic genus restricted to the Budawang Range on the western edge of the South Coast region. The genus was named by Telford in 1992; the species Budawangia gnidioides (Ericaceae) was previously Rupicola gnidioides.

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Legacy of the strangler fig

This photograph shows all that is left of the trunk of

the Small-leaf Fig Ficus obliqua that was blown down

in the Minnamurra Rainforest on 27 October 2004.

It had grown as a strangler fig, starting life in the

upper fork of a host tree several hundred years ago.

With the outer trunk rotted away, the history of that

origin is seen in the photograph at left, where the

inner truck still shows the inter-laced aerial root

structure that grew down the rotting host tree after it

was engulfed by the fig. If you look carefully, you can

see right through the trunk.

Photograph by Kevin Mills

17 February 2013.

Plant of the Month - Maclura cochinchinensis (Moraceae)

This months plant is a member of the fig family. This large vine, commonly known as Cockspur Thorn, is

common in the lowland rainforest remnants north of the Shoalhaven River and often grows in paddocks

amongst woody weeds. In open situations it grows as a bushy shrub, while in rainforest it will grow up into the

tallest trees. Its stems, armed with stout thorns, dangling below the branches. This native species is related to a

small exotic tree called Osage Orange Maclura pomifera, which is an old fashion hedge plant occasionally seen

on farms.

The orange fruit of the robust vine

Maclura cochinchinensis; it has the

most vicious thorns of any local

plant. This plant often grows as a

compact shrub out in the paddocks

on the volcanic soils in the Kiama

area.

Photograph Kevin Mills.

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Cauliflory

The term cauliflory is used to describe the habit of a plant to produce the flower and hence fruit, directly on

woody branches and trucks, rather than on fresh growth of twigs and shoots. The nomenclature is derived

from the Latin; caulis meaning stem and florus meaning flower. The habit is most pronounced in tropical plants.

One theory suggests that the habit evolved to allow mammals to more easily pollinate and spread the seeds of

such plants; mammals finding it easier to reach the flower/fruit if they occur on main branches and trunk of a

tree. The only local example of cauliflory is exhibited by the Sandpaper Fig Ficus coronata; as shown in the

accompanying photograph.

Other local plants in the fig family Moraceae

The Moraceae is a large, mainly tropical family with over 1500 species. The name derives from morea, the

Greek word for the Mulberry tree. Most species in the family have a milky sap and are almost entirely trees,

shrubs and vines. Flowers are tiny and inconspicuous and fruits are compound.

Local species other than Ficus in the family

Moraceae include Maclura cochinchinensis, as noted

above, Whalebone Tree Streblus brunonianus and

Burny Vine Trophis scandens (syn. Malaisia

scandens).

Photograph: Branch of Streblus brunonianus with

male flower spikes. Leaves are very variable in

shape and size, depending on plant age and

exposure. The common name comes from the long,

narrow juvenile leaves that look like the rib bone of

a whale.

The introduced mulberry genus Morus is also in this family. Two introduced species of fig are well known in the

region, namely Hills Fig Ficus microcarpa var. hillii, often a prominent street tree, and the Rubber Tree Ficus

elastica, the bane of home gardeners when it grows too large for the suburban block.

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A fig is a fig is a fig well not quite

The genus name comes from the Latin word ficus for the edible fig tree. There are five species of native fig in the

region, genus Ficus, family Moraceae. Four grow to be very large trees with huge trunks and canopies, and

extensive buttressing and three mostly start life as an epiphyte high up in other trees.

Ficus coronata Sandpaper Fig Rough leaves, hairy fruit often growing directly on the trunk. A common local tree, much smaller in size than the other species dealt with her. coronata: a crown, referring to the crown of bristles at the top of the fruit.

Ficus macrophylla Moreton Bay Fig Grows as a huge tree, often seen in paddocks north of Nowra to Shellharbour. Very large leaves, underside brownish. Huge buttressed trunk when old. marcophylla: meaning macro large, and phyllus leaf, in reference to the large leaves of this fig.

Ficus obliqua Small-leaved Fig The small-leaved fig grows as a very large tree, usually towering over the surrounding rainforest canopy. As the common name suggests, the small leaves are diagnostic. obliqua: oblique, but reason apparently obscure.

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Ficus rubiginosa Port Jackson Fig or Rusty Fig Thick leaves usually with a reddish under side, much smaller leaves than F. macrophylla. Often grows on rock outcrops, including very dry country away from rainforest. rubiginosa: rusty-red, referring to the reddish underside to the leaves.

Ficus superba var. henneana Deciduous Fig This can be a very large tree. Large, rather thin leaves with a long petiole, fruit large. Not necessarily deciduous. superba: outstanding - referring, presumably, to the attractiveness or size of the plant; henneana: after German botanist Diedrich Henne, who fist collected the variety.

The Common Fig

The Common Fig Ficus carica is widely grown for its edible

fruit. Various cultivars have been developed over the many

centuries the plant has been in cultivation. The species

originally came from the Middle East and western Asia. The

ripe fruit may be greenish, yellow or purple.

Photograph: Claudio Morson, Canberra.

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The fig fruit

The Ficus inflorescence (the fig) is hollow and known

as a syconium; it is lined internally with numerous tiny

flowers. The flowers bloom inside the fig, where the

seeds eventually form. A small hole in the fig permits

the specialised fig wasp to enter and pollinate the

flowers.

Photograph right. A ripe fig from Ficus superba,

showing the tiny internal fruits. This species has the

largest fig of the local species; width of this fig is 3 cm.

Pesto please

The preparing of a large batch of pesto has become a late autumn ritual at our house. The key ingredient,

readily grown in the home garden, is basil. This highly aromatic and much used herb originally came from Asia,

and has been used in European cooking for centuries. Basil Ocimum basilicum is in the Lamiaceae, the mint

family. At the end of the season, we harvest the entire crop of plants and detach the leaves on the kitchen bench.

The garlic is hanging under the house having been pulled six months ago. As I pull the leaves off and a myriad of

tiny creatures, spiders, green hoppers, small black ants and bugs, disperse around the kitchen, I ponder the fact

that I am destroying a small ecosystem, albeit an ephemeral one. Anyway, enough of my pondering, here is the

authentic pesto recipe, obtained from our Italian friends in Genoa, from where pesto originates. Restaurant

offerings and supermarket shelves do not compete with the authentic article, especially when made from fresh

ingredients you have grown yourself.

Making Pesto

Combine in a blender 3/4 to 1 cup of basil leaves, 3-4

cloves of garlic, 1/3 cup pine nuts, 1/2 cup olive oil and

salt to taste. Process mixture until smooth.

For use immediately, mix with about 1/2 cup of parmesan

cheese. If storing in fridge, avoid oxidisation by spreading

the cheese over the top of the mixture and capping with

plastic wrap. Place in small containers covered in plastic

wrap and freeze for a winter treat, adding cheese before

use.

Mystery Weed

This prostrate species seems to be spreading in recent

years and is turning up in new places. Any takers?

Trivia spot

Up to newsletter number 13, Budawangia has dealt with 81 indigenous taxa; only about 1,900 taxa to go to cover the greater Sydney/South Coast region! In those editions, an additional 36 exotic (non-native) taxa were also treated.