Good-day Field Nats,
A note of explanation for our newer members – and there are a few this year – we are a club who holds only one meeting per year; that’s the AGM, and it’s in August.
There is, however, another indoor activity in July and that’s coming up next week on the 12th. We will meet in the comfort of the Scottsdale Library meeting room where we will see and hear a number of presentations that will hopefully entertain and enlighten. The topics covered will be local geography, history, birds, habitat and more.
Meet at the library at 11am. Bring lunch to share.
AGM AUGUST 9th @ 20 Edward Street, Bridport.
Meeting begins at 11am. Shared lunch. Guest speaker after lunch – Ross Coad with a presentation about his work with the Friends of Bass Strait Islands – FOBSI group in the spectacular Furneaux Islands.
BIRDING:
Here’s an interesting link from Jay.
IN THE GOBLIN FOREST
As the return to cars took people through the Goblin Forest after being in the tunnel last outing, many weren’t so much alert to different plants along the way.
But, living in the fork of a tree at about head height was an interesting plant. I recognised it as Huperzia varia, a member of a group of plants called ‘fern allies’. It seems it can be known by both that name and Phlegmariurus varius, though on further reading it became obvious that the exact relationships and differences are not clear.
As a member of the club moss family, LYCOPODIACEAE, it reproduces by means of spores that are contained in sporangia. These sporangia are borne in the axils of the upper leaflets that are a spike shaped club.
Hupertzia is usually terrestrial but may also be epiphytic on a wide range of plants. Here in the Goblin Forest, it is growing on the Woolly teatree, Melaleuca lanigerum. It can be epiphytic on other plants like Acacia dealbata and Dicksonia antarctica. The ‘varia’ part of its name derives from its variable growth form. It can be pendulous or erect depending on where it grows.
NEW BOOK – FUNGA OBSCURA – by ALISON POULIOT.
There was much talk and many brilliant reviews about Alison’s first book Underground Lovers. That’s worth reading!
Now, comes her second book in a totally different format but equally exciting.
I have been waiting since early this year to borrow it from the State Library and just picked it up yesterday and had a quick look at it. I can do no better at the moment than recommend it to Field Natters by letting you read the back cover blurb, which says it all. I’m looking forward to delving into it.
One other thing ….. if you’re into Podcasts, Richard Fidler had a brilliant Conversation with Alison Pouliot on the 23rd June titled “The Mushroom Enigma”. I don’t think death caps were mentioned. 🤪
New Members
Earlier, I mentioned the newer members of the club; we love it when people join our club; they bring with them that joy in nature that we all share and, so often, knowledge and passions of their own. We’ve really enjoyed getting to know them. Welcome Fiona Ferguson, Geoff Shannon, David and Sue McKay, Charlez and Mischelle Tidd.
Good night,
Louise.