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Coaxing Banksia cones to release their precious seed cargo
One of the Kara Kara CMN's conservation targets, the iconic Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata), flowers over summer. Immediately after flowering, our volunteers are alert to the opportunity to collect seed cones to help save this increasingly rare species. But once the seed cones have been collected, just how do you coax the hard seed cones to open and release their precious cargo?
Here's our preferred method... First, space the cones out on an oven tray and 'roast' at 180 deg C for about 30 minutes. The heat causes the cone's follicles to open. Allow the cones to cool, then gently tap each one on a paper-lined bench to dislodge the loose seeds. Each follicle holds two winged seeds, one on either side of a woody 'separator' structure. Seeds that don't fall out by themselves after this treatment can be gently prised out with pointed tweezers. A fiddly and time-consuming task!
So, what to do with them now?! Seeds harvested by the Network are propagated and the young seedlings used in revegetation works throughout central Victoria. Some also find their way to specially-created Seed Production Areas (SPAs) that have been established to facilitate gene flow between plants from different populations. Progeny from these SPAs are then planted back into original remnant populations to increase genetic variability and help ensure the long-term future of this beautiful Australian native.
One of the Kara Kara CMN's conservation targets, the iconic Silver Banksia (Banksia marginata), flowers over summer. Immediately after flowering, our volunteers are alert to the opportunity to collect seed cones to help save this increasingly rare species. But once the seed cones have been collected, just how do you coax the hard seed cones to open and release their precious cargo?
Here's our preferred method... First, space the cones out on an oven tray and 'roast' at 180 deg C for about 30 minutes. The heat causes the cone's follicles to open. Allow the cones to cool, then gently tap each one on a paper-lined bench to dislodge the loose seeds. Each follicle holds two winged seeds, one on either side of a woody 'separator' structure. Seeds that don't fall out by themselves after this treatment can be gently prised out with pointed tweezers. A fiddly and time-consuming task!
So, what to do with them now?! Seeds harvested by the Network are propagated and the young seedlings used in revegetation works throughout central Victoria. Some also find their way to specially-created Seed Production Areas (SPAs) that have been established to facilitate gene flow between plants from different populations. Progeny from these SPAs are then planted back into original remnant populations to increase genetic variability and help ensure the long-term future of this beautiful Australian native.
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Pictured above (from left): Silver Banksia flower; and a Banksia cone after heat treatment with the woody separator structure and winged seed (D Saxon-Campbell).
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A small but significant milestone
It was only a small milestone, but it was significant nonetheless! Over summer, the Network passed the halfway mark towards our target of 200 nest-boxes to be installed in native woodland in Victoria's north-central region. Constructed by secondary school students at St Arnaud, Charlton and Donald, the boxes provide much needed habitat for threatened and declining species that require tree hollows for shelter and breeding, including the Brush-tailed Phascogale, Kookaburra and Southern Boobook. Designed for Phascogales, Box 100 was installed in a Stringybark on a privately-owned conservation block at Dalyenong, near St Arnaud. The project is funded by the Victorian Government under a 3-year Biodiversity On-ground Action grant. |
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Frocks, gumboots and good times at Moonambel
In Spring 2019, the women of north-central Victoria get the opportunity to ‘frock up’, don their gumboots and join with a group of like-minded ladies for a great day’s entertainment at the annual Chicks in the Sticks event.
Organised by the North-Central Catchment Management Authority at a different venue each year, the 2019 Chicks in the Sticks was held at Moonambel Gap Olives at the northern end of the picturesque Pyrenees Ranges.
After a wander through the olive grove and a brief introduction to the history of Moonambel, ladies listened intently to an inspiring talk from the day’s keynote speaker Emma Ayliffe from Summit Ag. An agronomist of just 28 years of age, Emma has already established an impressive reputation in her male-dominated field.
The Kara Kara CMN was one of several sponsors for the event, our aim being to promote the creation of habitat for native wildlife. Whether the ladies came from an urban or rural setting, each had the opportunity to take home a free native habitat plant courtesy of the Network to contribute to their ‘habitat garden’.
Pictured above: Ladies take a tour of the Moonambel Gap olive grove in the picturesque Pyrenees Ranges (D Saxon-Campbell).
In Spring 2019, the women of north-central Victoria get the opportunity to ‘frock up’, don their gumboots and join with a group of like-minded ladies for a great day’s entertainment at the annual Chicks in the Sticks event.
Organised by the North-Central Catchment Management Authority at a different venue each year, the 2019 Chicks in the Sticks was held at Moonambel Gap Olives at the northern end of the picturesque Pyrenees Ranges.
After a wander through the olive grove and a brief introduction to the history of Moonambel, ladies listened intently to an inspiring talk from the day’s keynote speaker Emma Ayliffe from Summit Ag. An agronomist of just 28 years of age, Emma has already established an impressive reputation in her male-dominated field.
The Kara Kara CMN was one of several sponsors for the event, our aim being to promote the creation of habitat for native wildlife. Whether the ladies came from an urban or rural setting, each had the opportunity to take home a free native habitat plant courtesy of the Network to contribute to their ‘habitat garden’.
Pictured above: Ladies take a tour of the Moonambel Gap olive grove in the picturesque Pyrenees Ranges (D Saxon-Campbell).
Page last reviewed: 18/5/2020
