Ted (who is a Mt Rogers volunteer committing multiple hours weekly to work on invasives on our 65 ha site) has referred us to a valuable article on managing Fleabane.
"Seed persistence in soil
The majority (90–95%) of flaxleaf fleabane seeds lose their viability within 12 to 18 months in the surface soil. However, a small percentage can persist for several years, particularly if seeds are buried 2 to 5 cm below the surface. "
The photo below shows the seeding heads of a low specimen of this widespread weed;
low because the plant had been mown. Some of the taller plants are well over a metre tall.
I therefore propose meeting at Mildenhall Place again on Sunday 22nd
around 09.00am
and at Rechner Place on Monday 6 June at 9am,
and continuing a walk and weed
approach protecting the higher quality areas from the main culprits:
- · Fleabane,
- · check for privet seedlings under every tree,
- · Briar rose dug out/rose hips removed,
- · St John’s Wort,
- · isolated ALG tussocks (+ rarer Serrated Tussock if found),
- Cotoneaster,
and photographing any fungi species found to put on Canberra Nature Map (https://canberra.naturemapr.org/).
In some places gentle levering out of the new Fleabane plants is
successful and will save us doing this later on especially in the good-quality vegetation places.
Yesterday I took out Fleabane near the best grassland at Umbagong,
Latham. The dead plants are worth pulling out, even though the seeds have
dispersed, because the roots are still alive and new sprouting buds are present
on some. The soil was damp enough for this pulling not to be too onerous. and
the area doesn’t look as derelict now.
Bring secateurs and the little diggers if you have them, though I have several here.
I hope you have been able to search out the amazing diversity of toadstools, mushrooms and other colourful species. The wet weather has encouraged the spores to germinate. The above ground fungi are the fruiting bodies of the very extensive hyphae networks below the ground, through the soil and that link plants to each other.
If you’d like to find out which species have been found around our
region go to Canberra Nature Map where people, citizen
scientists and naturalists have uploaded their sightings.
Please keep eyes open to see if Scarlet Robins have returned to Mt Rogers
for the cooler months.
Thank you,
Rosemary
