Book Review: Australian Rainforest Seeds
Book Review by Glenn Leiper
'Australian Rainforest Seeds. A Guide to Collecting, Processing
and Propagation'
By Mark Dunphy, Steve McAlpin, Paul Nelson and Michelle Chapman, with photos by Hugh Nicholson.
Published by CSIRO Publishing, 216 pages.
ISBN 978-1-4863-11507
Recommended retail price $49.99
I’d heard about this book in the pipeline not too long ago and was eagerly anticipating its arrival. Having now received a copy and immersed myself in it for the past week, I can happily confirm that it was well worth waiting for and has certainly delivered on its promise of being the “essential guide to collecting and propagating the seeds of 300 subtropical rainforest species”. Nan Nicholson, (botanist, author, publisher and former co-owner of Terania Rainforest Nursery) writes in the book’s Foreword, “This is the book I needed when I started growing rainforest plants 25 years ago” hinting at its comprehensive and reliable information. I wholeheartedly agree. The book is what all native plant nurseries and native plant enthusiasts in New South Wales and Queensland should have on their bookshelves … no, I’ll correct that. It should be in their nursery work area being referred to regularly and used to the point of falling apart. It’s basically a manual for those wanting to propagate rainforest seeds.
The authors have been mostly involved in rainforest propagation (at Firewheel Rainforest Nursery) and regeneration for the past 30 years in northern New South Wales, and have learnt not only from others in the industry but also through trial and error experiences … persevering with difficult seeds until better levels of success are achieved.
Briefly, this is what the book includes –
• an A-Z guide with instructions for collecting, storing and propagating 300 subtropical rainforest species
• 300 colour photographs mostly by renowned rainforest photographer Hugh Nicholson
• detailed techniques for preparing seeds for successful germination
• information on general plant biology and ecology with some interesting notes about seed dormancy
• a chapter on seed collecting which includes discussion and information about fruit maturity, legalities of seed collecting in both New South Wales and Queensland, where when and how to collect, and some basic but important guidelines on safety issues which I found to be common sense but also the first time I’ve seen these issues mentioned in print.
• a wonderfully informative and revelatory chapter on seed processing techniques such as blending, wet and dry composting, boiling, fermenting, macerating, scarification and winnowing, plus many more.
There are many rainforest species that have proven quite difficult or even impossible for me to germinate over many years of repeated attempts, and I was very interested to read what techniques the authors recommend. I couldn’t put the book down for the first couple of days as I kept going back and forward to various species to read and solve germination dilemmas I’ve had, such as for Green Kamala Mallotus claoxyloides and Soap Tree/Red Ash Alphitonia excelsa. I particularly enjoyed reading the techniques used on White Beech Gmelina leichhardtii seeds which include “separate the pulp from the stone by crushing underfoot or running over with a car while under shadecloth, or by peeling. Then dry the stones for 4 – 5 months over winter, in an open container in a warm, dry place until they become brittle”. There are more instructions following but I loved this honest down-to-earth explanation of a technique that has obviously been arrived at through trials and/or experience, possibly even getting one of those “lightbulb moments” when collecting White Beech seeds in a carpark?
There are some local south east Queensland species not included in this book, but the authors have said that they’re interested in readers’ feedback and any information that could be included in future expanded editions of the book.
Owenia venosa Rose Apple is one such plant which is at best very erratic in germination and at worst not worth the effort and time.
While the book’s information applies specifically to 300 northern New South Wales/southern Queensland species of which many occur also outside that geographical range, the information and techniques can of course be readily applied to similar species further north in Queensland.
Every native plant nursery and native plant enthusiast who dabbles in growing any rainforest species will find this book an absolute essential addition to their library. In the words of another old guy who I have absolutely no similarities to, “Do yourself a favour and get a copy”.
I think it’ll be one of those indispensable books that will be heavily worn, with grubby fingerprints everywhere, dog ears and notes scribbled throughout the pages by each owner, a clear indication of a much used and valued book. Well done to all involved in this excellent publication.
Gmelina leichhardtii fruit. Photo Glenn Leiper
Book Review by Peter Storer, President, Native Plants Queensland, Samford Branch, SDPPA Samford Eco-Corridor team
'Australian Rainforest Seeds: A Guide to Collecting, Processing and Preparation' distils many decades of propagation research, experience and practice into a concise, easy-to-use handbook that will be invaluable to anyone wanting to grow Australian rainforest plants, whether a bushcare group, professional or community nursery, school or home gardener.
After a brief Introduction, Chapter 2 ‘Biology and ecology’ describes the types of flowers, fruits and seeds of rainforest plants and explains the types of dormancy that may be encountered and how to overcome them to encourage good germination. Chapter 3 details when and where to collect seeds, what to collect and how to collect them. The all-important Chapter 4 on processing describes a range of techniques that assist germination, break dormancy, prevent seed damage and contribute to seedling survival. These include boiling, wet and dry composting, fermenting, macerating, scarifying and splitting, among many others. Chapter 5 explains how to store seeds that have a low moisture content, but points out that many Australian rainforest species are best ‘stored’ as seedlings in a nutrient poor medium Chapter 6 provides a brief overview of propagation techniques. Most experienced propagators will skip straight to the comprehensive and well-organised ‘A–Z species guide’, which describes the fruit and seed of each species, the fruiting interval (eg. annual), the fruiting period, how to collect, process and sow the seeds, the level of germination to be expected and for how long the seedlings can be stored. This chapter is beautifully illustrated with Hugh Nicholson’s magnificent colour photos, with others contributed by Glenn Leiper.
The authors, Mark Dunphy, Steve McAlpin, Paul Nelson and Michelle Chapman, are to be commended for producing ‘a synthesis of knowledge that is unparalleled’, according to the legendary Nan Nicholson of Terania Rainforest Publishing. I am sure this handbook will quickly become the ‘bible’ for all propagators of rainforest plants. The authors encourage feedback from fellow propagators, so would be great to see some new species added in future editions, including some from Queensland.
Book Reviews Published: Journal June 2021
Closeup of cover 'Australian Rainforest Seeds: A Guide to Collecting, Processing and Preparation