MATTERS: News and events

news

World’s biggest plant

The discovery that a single seagrass ribbon weed (Posidonia australis) could be the world’s largest plant has highlighted the importance of this often overlooked species. Believed to be 4500 years old, the seagrass meadow in Shark Bay, WA, covers about 200 sq km.

Seagrasses are important foundation species that inhabit shallow waters off most of the world’s coasts. They help stablise sand and are breeding grounds for fish, crustaceans and more. Like grasses on land, seagrasses reproduce either by putting out runners, or by producing seed. Scientists from Flinders University, SA, and the University of WA (UWA) wanted to find out how many plants grew in this meadow, so DNA tested them.

“We often get asked how many different plants are growing in seagrass meadows and this time we used genetic tools to answer it,” says Dr Elizabeth Sinclair, from UWA’s School of Biological Sciences.

They were stunned to find they were genetically identical. The only way this could happen was if this whole meadow was one single plant grown from runners over thousands of years.

Ribbon weed, Posidonia australis, meadow in Shark Bay, WA

events

Queensland Garden Expo is on

The Queensland Garden Expo is back with a packed program that will appeal to green thumbs and novice gardeners alike. Held in the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Nambour, there will be demonstrations and workshops, along with more than 300 exhibitors offering a wide range of gardening products and plants.

The speaker’s program includes favourites such as ABC Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis, Sophie Thomson and Jerry Coleby-Williams as well as Phil Dudman, the ‘Garden Guru’, Claire Bickle, Kate Wall and many more. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn more about all aspects of gardening and for those without a backyard, proud owners of indoor plants are also catered for. Date: July 8–10 Location: Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour, Queensland Details: qldgardenexpo.com.au

Native foods festival for SA

The inaugural Quandong Festival in Quorn (SA) will be a celebration of Australian native foods of Nukunu and Adnyamathanha land. It will feature Australian native food growers, harvesters, cooks, educators and enthusiasts, including River Cottage’s Paul West, The Agrarian Kitchen’s Rodney Dunn and renowned author Bruce Pascoe. Along with good food, there will be educational workshops, cooking demonstrations, panel discussions, culinary experiences, music, art, family activities all set in the beautiful Flinders Ranges. The event is curated by Indigenous-owned Warndu. Date: Saturday, August 6, 10am-6pm Location: Quorn, Flinders Ranges, South Australia cost: Free, but you must register at events.humanitix.com/quandongfestival Details: quandongfestival.com

Left: Costa will be at the Queensland Garden Expo. Bottom: Learn about quandongs.