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Volume 20: 1–3
Publication date: 30 January 2017
dx.doi.org/10.7751/telopea11022
Telopea
Journal of Plant Systematics
plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/Telopea • escholarship.usyd.edu.au/journals/index.php/TEL • ISSN 0312-9764 (Print) • ISSN 2200-4025 (Online)
Strelitzia nicolai (Strelitziaceae): a new species, genus and
family weed record for New South Wales
Marco F Duretto1,4, Seanna McCune1, Reece Luxton2 and Dennis Milne3
National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust,
Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
2
Clarence Valley Council, Locked Bag 23, Grafton, NSW 2460, Australia.
3
Yuraygir Landcare, Minnie Water, NSW 2462, Australia.
4
Author for correspondence: [email protected]
1
Abstract
Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Körn. (Strelitziaceae), a native of South Africa, is newly recorded as a sparingly
naturalised weed for New South Wales and represents new family, generic and species records for the state.
Descriptions, notes and identification key are provided for the family, genus and species.
Introduction
Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Körn. (Giant White Bird of Paradise or Natal Wild Banana; Strelitziaceae), a native
of South Africa, is a common horticultural subject in eastern Australia. Recently a small colony of plants was
discovered at Minnie Water (c. 60 km NNE of Coffs Harbour, North Coast, New South Wales). The colony
is of note as some plants were 8 m tall (suggesting they had been there for some time) and that they were
setting viable seed. Seedlings were found within this population and Milne and Luxton have observed that the
species is being found in increasing numbers on council land and in National Parks of the area. The species
has also been recorded from the Murri-yanna Track, Bidjigal Reserve (North Rocks, NW Sydney) in 2006,
with vouchers lodged at the National Herbarium of New South Wales. This latter population consisted of
approximately 20 seedlings. This area was visited by Duretto in 2015 and the population is extant with roughly
the same number of plants. There were plants of different sizes (30–250 cm tall, the height being mostly leaf
length) suggesting that they were of different ages and thus recruitment events. In addition it was noted that
the plants were found not only along the track but scattered in the forest in wetter areas to a few 10’s of metres
from the track. No mature plants were seen though plants are growing in private gardens bordering the reserve
and these may be the seed source. The Atlas of Living Australia (http://www.ala.org.au/) and NSW BioNet
(http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au/) both have a few additional observational sightings of this species from the
Sydney and Newcastle areas but with very little information.
It would appear that Strelitzia nicolai has become sparingly naturalised in at least two localities in New South
Wales. The species is well known and large and so awkward to collect. It may be underrepresented in Herbaria
as people tend not to collect and send in familiar and/or large plants for identification. The species is sparingly
naturalised in south-eastern Queensland (Queensland Government 2015).
© 2017 Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust
2
2
Telopea 20: 1–3, 2017
Telopea 20: 1–3, 2017
Duretto, McCune, Luxton and Milne
Duretto, McCune, Luxton and Milne
The descriptions provided below were compiled from living material and the descriptions given in Wright
The
descriptions
provided
below were
compiled from living material and the descriptions given in Wright
(1913),
Dyer (1976)
and Anderson
(1998).
(1913), Dyer (1976) and Anderson (1998).
Strelitziaceae (K.Schum.) Hutch.
Strelitziaceae (K.Schum.) Hutch.
Arborescent suckering plants or acaulescent plants with dichotomously branched stem. Leaves alternate,
Arborescent
suckering
plants
or acaulescent
plants
with indistinct
dichotomously
branched
distichous; sheath
without
distinct
ligule; petiole
distinct,
or absent;
blade stem.
entire,Leaves
midribalternate,
distinct,
distichous;
sheath
without
distinct
ligule;
petiole
distinct,
indistinct
or
absent;
blade
entire,
lateral veins closely set and parallel. Inflorescence a terminal or lateral thyrsus, bearing cincinnatemidrib
flowerdistinct,
clusters
lateral
closely set and
parallel.
a terminal
orFlowers
lateral thyrsus,
bearing
cincinnate
flower clusters
in axilsveins
of spathaceous
bracts
on anInflorescence
indeterminate
main axis.
bisexual,
trimerous,
heterochlamydeous,
in
axils of spathaceous
bracts
on an indeterminate
main
Flowers
bisexual,
trimerous,
heterochlamydeous,
zygomorphic,
subtended
by carinate
bracteoles. Sepals
3, axis.
free or
more or
less adnate
to petals.
Petals 3, variously
zygomorphic,
subtended
by
carinate
bracteoles.
Sepals
3,
free
or
more
or
less
adnate
to
petals.
Petals 3,2-thecate,
variously
connate, equal or very unequal. Stamens 5 or 6, staminodes absent; anthers basifixed, elongate,
connate,
equal
or
very
unequal.
Stamens
5
or
6,
staminodes
absent;
anthers
basifixed,
elongate,
2-thecate,
4-sporangiate. Ovary inferior, 3-locular, with deeply sunken septal nectaries; ovules anatropus, 1 to numerous
4-sporangiate.
Ovary
with deeply
sunken
septal
nectaries;arillate,
ovuleswith
anatropus,
1 to numerous
on axile placenta;
styleinferior,
filiform.3-locular,
Fruit a dehiscent
capsule.
Seeds
inoperculate,
a 1-layered,
starchless
on
axile
placenta;
style
filiform.
Fruit
a
dehiscent
capsule.
Seeds
inoperculate,
arillate,
with
a
1-layered,
starchless
perisperm, with copious starchy endosperm.
perisperm, with copious starchy endosperm.
The naturalised species of Strelitziaceae are distinguished from other plant families in New South Wales by
The
naturalised
species of Strelitziaceae
are distinguished
other
families
in Newpetiole)
South Wales
by
usually
being arborescent,
having large banana-like
leavesfrom
(usually
> plant
1 m long
including
arranged
usually
being
arborescent,
having
large
banana-like
leaves
(usually
>
1
m
long
including
petiole)
arranged
distichously and with an elliptic lamina and a main midrib, and the large flowers. Some species in Strelitzia are
distichously
andbut
with
an elliptic
and aand
main
midrib,
and the large
are
not arborescent
these
are notlamina
naturalised
can
be distinguished
byflowers.
formingSome
largespecies
clumpsinofStrelitzia
large leaves
not
arborescent
but
these
are
not
naturalised
and
can
be
distinguished
by
forming
large
clumps
of
large
leaves
and the large, showy and unequal tepals.
and the large, showy and unequal tepals.
The family consists of three taxa native to southern Africa (Strelitzia, Bird of Paradise), Madagascar (Ravenala
The
family consists
of three
taxa native
to and
southern
(Strelitzia,
Bird of Paradise),
Madagascar
(Ravenala
madagascariensis
Sonn.,
Travellers
Palm)
SouthAfrica
America
(Phenakospermum
guyannense
(Rich.)
Endl. ex
madagascariensis
Sonn.,
Travellers
Palm)
and
South
America
(Phenakospermum
guyannense
(Rich.)
Endl.
ex
Miq.) (Anderson 1998). Strelitzia and Ravenala are common in horticulture and only the former appears
to be
Miq.)
(Anderson
1998).
Strelitzia
and
Ravenala
are
common
in
horticulture
and
only
the
former
appears
to
be
naturalised while the latter may persist from dumped garden refuse.
naturalised while the latter may persist from dumped garden refuse.
Key to genera Ravenala and Strelitzia (Strelitziaceae)
Key to genera Ravenala and Strelitzia (Strelitziaceae)
1 Petals very unequal, the anterior pair connivent into a large sagittate structure with a central groove
1 Petals
verystamens
unequal,and
thestyle;
anterior
pair connivent
into
sagittate
structure
a central groove
enclosing
posterior
petal small
anda large
scalelike;
arborescent
orwith
not ....................
Strelitzia
enclosing stamens and style; posterior petal small and scalelike; arborescent or not .................... Strelitzia
1: Petals ± equal in shape though posterior one slightly smaller, not connivent; arborescent ......... Ravenala
1: Petals ± equal in shape though posterior one slightly smaller, not connivent; arborescent ......... Ravenala
Strelitzia Banks, Strelitzia reginae [plate] (1788).
Strelitzia Banks, Strelitzia reginae [plate] (1788).
Type species: Strelitzia reginae Banks
Type species: Strelitzia reginae Banks
Arborescent and suckering or acaulescent and clumping with dichotomously branching corm like stems.
Arborescent
suckering
acaulescent
and clumping
with than
dichotomously
corm
likestrongly
stems.
Inflorescenceand
lateral.
Sepals or
unequal,
the median
sepal smaller
the lateral branching
paired ones.
Petals
Inflorescence
lateral.
Sepals
unequal,
the
median
sepal
smaller
than
the
lateral
paired
ones.
Petals
strongly
unequal, free; the paired ones large, brightly coloured, connivent into a sagittate structure centrally with a
unequal,
free; thethe
paired
large, brightly
coloured,
conniventone
into
a sagittate
structure
centrally
groove enclosing
styleones
and stamens;
the unpaired
(posterior)
small.
Stamens
5, perfect.
Ovary with
with 2a
groove
enclosing
the
style
and
stamens;
the
unpaired
(posterior)
one
small.
Stamens
5,
perfect.
Ovary
with 2
rows of ovules. Seeds few, globose, with orange woolly aril.
rows of ovules. Seeds few, globose, with orange woolly aril.
A South African genus of 5–6 species. Three species, S. reginae (Bird of Paradise), S. nicolai and to a lesser extent
A
South African
genus
of 5–6
species.
Three
species,floricultural
S. reginae (Bird
of Paradise),
S. nicolai
and to a lesser
extent
S. juncea
Link, are
widely
cultivated
and
important
plants.
Strelitzia nicolai
is sparingly
naturalised
S.
juncea
Link,
are
widely
cultivated
and
important
floricultural
plants.
Strelitzia
nicolai
is
sparingly
naturalised
in south-eastern Queensland (Queensland Government 2015) and north-eastern New South Wales.
in south-eastern Queensland (Queensland Government 2015) and north-eastern New South Wales.
Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Körn., Gartenflora 7: 265, t. 235 (1858).
Strelitzia nicolai Regel & Körn., Gartenflora 7: 265, t. 235 (1858).
Arborescent, multi-stemmed plant to 8(–12 m elsewhere) high; trunk diam. to 0.5 m wide; forming large
Arborescent,
multi-stemmed
8(–12
m elsewhere)
high; trunk
diam.
0.5 m
wide;packed;
forminglamina
large
clumps by new
stems shootingplant
fromtobase.
Leaves
simple, petiolate,
to 2 m
long;tobases
tightly
clumps
by
new
stems
shooting
from
base.
Leaves
simple,
petiolate,
to
2
m
long;
bases
tightly
packed;
lamina
undivided though usually splitting in several places between lateral veins with age, elliptic, with a single main
undivided
though
usually splitting
in several
places between
lateral
veins
with
age,and
elliptic,
a single
main
vein and many
perpendicular
lateral
veins; persisting
for short
time
after
dying
thenwith
falling
off entire.
vein
and
many
perpendicular
lateral
veins;
persisting
for
short
time
after
dying
and
then
falling
off
entire.
Inflorescence axillary, protruding from between petioles; spathe large, dark blue to reddish-brown, drying and
Inflorescence
protruding
between
dark typically
blue to reddish-brown,
and
persisting for axillary,
several years.
Entirefrom
flower
to 18 petioles;
cm high spathe
and 45large,
cm long,
held just abovedrying
the point
persisting
for
several
years.
Entire
flower
to
18
cm
high
and
45
cm
long,
typically
held
just
above
the
point
where the leaf fan emerges from the stem. Tepals white/blue. Fruit a woody capsule. Seeds large, 8–10 mm
where
the leaf
emerges from the stem. Tepals white/blue. Fruit a woody capsule. Seeds large, 8–10 mm
diam., black;
arilfan
orange.
diam., black; aril orange.
Specimens examined: AuSTRALIA: NEW SOuTH WALES: North Coast: Minnie Water, 29°46'06"S
Specimens examined:
AuSTRALIA:
SOuTH
WALES:
North
Minnie
Water, 29°46'06"S
153°17'43"E,
R. Luxton, Apr
2015 (NSWNEW
907786);
Central
Coast:
AlongCoast:
footpath
[Murri-yanna
Track] on
153°17'43"E,
R.
Luxton,
Apr
2015
(NSW
907786);
Central
Coast:
Along
footpath
[Murri-yanna
Track]
on
eastern side of Darling Mills Creek [Bidjigal Reserve], North Rocks, 33°46'45"S 151°00'36"E, W. Cherry
21, Oct
eastern
side
of
Darling
Mills
Creek
[Bidjigal
Reserve],
North
Rocks,
33°46'45"S
151°00'36"E,
W.
Cherry
21,
Oct
2006 (NSW 741411).
2006 (NSW 741411).
Images: Images of Strelitzia nicolai and related species are readily available on the internet (eg. PlantNET 2016).
Images: Images of Strelitzia nicolai and related species are readily available on the internet (eg. PlantNET 2016).
Strelitzia nicolai (Strelitziaceae): a new weed for NSW
Telopea 20: 1–3, 2017
3
Distribution and ecology: Currently known from two vouchered populations in New South Wales. 1. At Minnie
Water (c. 60 km NNE of Coffs Harbour), in and around Yuraygir National Park, where found in Melaleuca
forest on sand as well as in tall open Banksia heath on exposed headlands (e.g. east side of Pipers Hill, D
Milne pers. obs.). 2. At Bidjigal Reserve (NW Sydney) plants are found in wet Syncarpia glomulifera/
Angophora costata forest on sandstone. Plants have also been observed as isolated individuals or in small
groups around Sydney; eg. Melaleuca forest in Lawson Swamp (Centennial Park, Randwick), very weedy
woodland on railway sidings at Waverton, as well as at Middle Harbour near the Roseville Bridge (M
Duretto, pers. obs.). In Queensland the species is found in tall open woodland, notophyll vine forest and
rainforest (Atlas of Living Australia; http://www.ala.org.au/).
Notes: At Minnie Water the species appears to be established over a large area in a variety of habitats, although
individuals can be widely spaced. There are a variety of ages present (from seedlings to plants 8 m tall), and
since seed production is active it would appear the plants have become established. The local Yuraygir Landcare
group is actively removing plants.
Elsewhere it is not known if populations are self-perpetuating. They may originate from seeds produced by
local horticultural subjects or from garden refuse. Nevertheless the species is long lived, and given the size
plants can attain, in both height and width of the colony, removing them should become mandatory in natural
habitats. Once established the species would be difficult to eradicate.
References
Anderson L (1998) Strelitziaceae. Pp. 451–455 in Kubitzki K (ed.) The families and genera of vascular plants,
Vol. 4, Flowering Plants Monocotyledons: Alismatanae and Commelinanae (except Gramineae). SpringerVerlag, Berlin
Atlas of Living Australia. http://www.ala.org.au/ [accessed 22 September 2015]
Dyer RA (9176) The genera of southern African flowering plants, Vol. 2, Gymnosperms and Monocotyledons.
Department of Agricultural Technical Services, Pretoria
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney.
http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au [accessed 29 Sep 2016]
Queensland Government (2015) Census of the Queensland Flora 2015 https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/censusof-the-queensland-flora-2015 [accessed 19 September 2016]
NSW BioNet. http://www.bionet.nsw.gov.au/ [accessed 22 September 2015]
Wright CH (1913) Scitamineae. Pp. 313–319 in Thiselton-Dyer WT (ed.) Flora Capensis: being a systematic
description of the plants of the Cape Colony, Caffraria and Port Natal (and neighbouring territories), Vol. V,
section 3, Hydrocharideae to Scitamineae. L. Reeve & co., London
Manuscript received 8 August 2016, accepted 26 November 2016