Category: Landcare

Local Provenance: Why Native Plants Belong.

Guest post by Christine Dalliston
Edited, updated, proofread – Admin
Image: Hairpin banksia, by sandid from Pixabay

Local provenance refers to native plant populations that naturally thrive in a specific area, adapted to its unique conditions.

Many native species, like the Hairpin banksia (Banksia spinulosa), grow across vast regions, from coastal Victoria to Cairns. Yet, plants in one area differ genetically from their cousins elsewhere. A Hairpin banksia in southern Victoria, for instance, has distinct traits compared to one in Cairns, just as coastal plants vary from those in the mountains. These unique populations, called provenances, reflect local adaptations.

For true local provenance, plants are grown from seeds of parent plants within the same population—or as close as possible. Using seeds from distant regions can weaken a population’s resilience by diluting genes honed over time for local conditions. Over generations, such mixing may even prevent new species from evolving.

Preserving local provenance protects biodiversity and strengthens native plants against climate change. At CDTLI, we champion these local treasures to keep Townsville’s ecosystems thriving.

Guest post by Malcolm Tattersall
Edited, updated, proofread by Frank Leonard
Feature image by Michelle Pitzel from Pixabay

Bottlebrush or Paperbark? Unraveling the Naming Mystery

It all started with a curious line in our local newspaper’s gardening column: “The Tinaroo Bottlebrush (Melaleuca recurva but still sold as Callistemon recurvis) is…” This made me wonder, like many gardeners might, “Isn’t a Melaleuca a paperbark?” A little digging revealed that the answer isn’t as straightforward as I once thought.

A Naming Puzzle: Untangling Common Names

We use two kinds of names for plants: common names and scientific names. In the case of bottlebrushes and paperbarks, both can be a bit puzzling. Common names often describe a key feature – paperbarks are named for their distinctive papery bark, and bottlebrushes for their flowers that look like bottle brushes.

However, nature doesn’t always follow our neat categories! Some bottlebrushes can have quite papery bark, and some paperbarks can sport flowers that look remarkably like bottlebrushes. I even have a scrawny tree in my own garden with flaky bark and vibrant red, bottlebrush-like flowers. So, is it a paperbark or a bottlebrush? The truth is, when it comes to common names, you could call it either.

The Science Behind the Shift: Simplifying the Botanical Merger

Scientific names, usually in Latin, are meant to be more precise. But even these can change as plant scientists learn more about how different plants are related. For a long time, bottlebrushes (genus Callistemon) and paperbarks (genus Melaleuca) were classified as separate groups.

However, in 2006, a botanist named Lyn Craven proposed that the differences between them weren’t significant enough to keep them apart. He argued that the way their stamens (the pollen-carrying parts of the flower) are arranged shows that Callistemon actually blends into Melaleuca. Because the name Melaleuca was established earlier, the scientific community has been considering moving all bottlebrushes into the Melaleuca genus. So, if you’re being botanically precise, your bottlebrush is now likely considered a type of paperbark.

This change isn’t universally accepted just yet. You might still see plants labeled as Callistemon in some nurseries and older resources. Even the Australian Plant Census, a key authority on plant names, hadn’t fully adopted this change as of 2018. It’s a reminder that our understanding of the natural world is always evolving.

Highlighting Our Local Beauty: The Melaleuca viridiflora Story in Townsville

Getting back to my own garden mystery, my red-flowering, flaky-barked tree turned out to be a Melaleuca viridiflora. While the flowers are typically cream or greenish, red forms do occur here in the Townsville region. So, it was always a paperbark and now, scientifically, it’s confirmed as a Melaleuca.

Bringing it to Your Garden: Connecting with CDTLI’s Nursery

Whether you’re curious about bottlebrushes, paperbarks, or the fascinating world of plant names, Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare Inc.’s Bush Garden Nursery is a fantastic resource right here in Townsville! We stock a wonderful variety of local native plants, including many Melaleuca species (some of which you might have previously known as Callistemon), perfect for our climate and great for attracting local wildlife.

Come visit us to explore our collection and get expert advice for your own garden.

Wildlife attracted to Melaleuca viridiflora:

Broad-leaved Paperbark. Other common names include Broad-leaved Tea Tree and Paperbark Tea Tree.

Birds: Honeyeaters, lorikeets, and other nectar-feeding birds are drawn to the abundant flowers. 

Bees and other pollinators: The flowers provide nectar and pollen, supporting these important insects. 

Other wildlife: The plant can also provide habitat and food for a range of other creatures, including ants, butterfly larvae, and certain orchid species. 

Concluding Thought

So, the next time you see a bottlebrush or a paperbark, remember their close connection. While the names might sometimes cause confusion, their beauty and importance to our local ecosystem are undeniable. Happy gardening.

This original article first appeared on my blog (Malcolm Tattersall), Green Path, in 2018.

Acknowledging Sources

List of References/Sources Mentioned in the Original Article

Here are the specific sources or authorities referred to within Malcolm Tattersall’s original post / article.

• Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) website: Callistemon/Melaleuca merger discussions
• Craven, L.A. (2006). New Combinations in Melaleuca for Australian Species of Callistemon (Myrtaceae). Novon, 16(4), 468–475. This is the key scientific paper. You should be able to find this via Google Scholar or botanical library databases (it might be behind a paywall, but abstracts are often available).
• Australian Plant Census (APC): This is the recognized authority on plant nomenclature in Australia. You can search their database directly online. Search result pages or summary pages about Melaleuca/Callistemon if available).
• Green Path (Malcolm Tattersall’s blog): The original source of the post. You could potentially upload the original 2018 post if you find it online.

Guest Post by: Adam Goulding.
Edited, updated, proofread by Admin.
Image by Thanh Pham from Pixabay

Before COVID-19 paused operations at CDTLI’s Bush Garden Nursery, our Saturday sessions buzzed with activity, drawing walkers, cyclists, and runners. One morning, a couple wandered in during our volunteers’ smoko, only to leave disappointed—we weren’t the coffee shop they’d hoped for!

On our final open Saturday, four runners stopped by, eager to explore native plants. One showed me a photo on their phone, keeping a careful 1.5-meter distance. It captured the round flower head of what they dubbed the “coronavirus tree”—and I could see why! Its spiky, orb-like bloom resembled a magnified coronavirus particle.

I identified it as the Leichhardt Tree, Nauclea orientalis, and pointed to one growing at the Nursery. For botanical buffs, its distinctive flower had given away the species. From now on, I’ll call Nauclea orientalis the “coronavirus tree.” I’m planting one in my garden as a living memory of the global pandemic.

Your Guide to Naming Local Flora

Guest post by Tim Doolan.
Edited, updated, proofread – Admin.
Image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay

With COVID-19 restrictions keeping us close to home, I hope you’re savoring some quiet time. What better moment to explore resources for identifying native plants?

Beyond asking a pro or hitting Google, where does the everyday person turn for species info? As a newbie years ago, I struggled to find answers. This post is a nod to my past self—a guide for anyone starting out.

I keep returning to a few trusty resources, so here are my top three. This isn’t exhaustive—plenty of Landcare folks at JCU or with botanical brains outshine any book. But for the rest of us, these tools help decode what’s growing around you:

Field Guide to Plants of the Dry Tropics – Keith Townsend (sold at Mary Who Bookshop)

Book cover image. Courtesy: Native Plants Queensland – Townsville Branch.

Best Bits: Stunning visuals make identification a breeze.

It’s compact, so it skips deep details—like natural habitats, which I love for context. Still, each species gets a tight, spot-on paragraph—perfect for a pocket guide.

Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the Tropics – Keith Townsend (sold at Mary Who Bookshop)

Book cover image. Courtesy: Native Plants Queensland – Townsville Branch.

Best Bits: Massive species list, plus a rare 50-page rundown of Townsville gardening challenges.

It’s light on details and visuals, so it’s not the friendliest field guide for beginners.

Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (website)

Image: CSIRO, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Best Bits: Deep dive into tropical rainforest plants with scientific and layman info, great visuals, and fun trivia.

It focuses on rainforests, missing many dryland “Brownsville” species.

Honourable Mention – Even Bigger Plant Nerds Than Me.

At CDTLI, James Cook University, and the Society for Growing Australian Plants, you’ll meet folks with plant knowledge that’s not written anywhere. There’s simply too much to catalogue, so we all cherish our unique gems of wisdom. That’s why we love the adventure of discovery so much.

Best Bits: A wealth of insights, often locked in their minds, not books.

Growing the Right Vines for Swallowtail Butterflies

Guest post by Malcolm Tattersall.
Edited, updated, proofread – Admin.
Feature Image: Nosferattus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Many gardeners know a special vine can draw Birdwing butterflies, but its name and which butterflies need it spark frequent questions.

In short, one group of Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars feeds only on a specific plant family. These butterflies, called Troidini—a scientific “tribe” between family and genus—belong to the Swallowtail family (Papilionidae). Their plants are Birthworts (Aristolochiaceae).

Our local Troidini include the Clearwing Swallowtail (Cressida cressida), Red-bodied Swallowtail (Pachliopta polydorus), and all Birdwing species (Ornithoptera). The Birthworts we care about fall in the genus Aristolochia—or once did. Many go by the common name Dutchman’s Pipe vines.

The details get tricky, but here’s what you need to attract butterflies to your garden:

Aristolochia acuminata (also called Aristolochia tagala)

Aristolochia acuminata / Aristolochia tagala feeds all Birdwing species, plus Red-bodied and Clearwing Swallowtails. It’s the go-to vine in Townsville gardens, sold as Aristolochia acuminata at the Bush Garden Nursery.

Richmond Butterfly Vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa)

Dutchman’s Pipe Vine

Dutchman’s Pipe Vine (Aristolochia elegans, also Aristolochia littoralis) is one to avoid. This South American exotic lures adult butterflies to lay eggs, but its leaves often poison their caterpillars.

Scientific / botanical Vs. common names? Why do these questions linger?

Scientific names for vines and butterflies shift over time. Common names muddle things by lumping similar species together. Plus, other native vines feed different Swallowtails, adding to the mix. For the full scoop, check the original article on my blog, Green Path.