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Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research
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Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research
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1 Sept 2005
A new tool released today by the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research takes the guesswork out of identifying the trees and shrubs of three of the ACT's favourite mountains.
‘Key to the trees and shrubs of Black Mountain, Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura' is a web-based identification key compiled by Mr Laurie Adams, an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research.
Botany enthusiasts, school groups and environmental organisations will all find the key an invaluable resource for learning about the mountain flora. The three mountains are also popular with bushwalkers and the key can bring a new dimension to the bush experience.
“The key builds on an earlier version and describes all the trees and shrubs known to occur on the three mountains,” says Mr Adams.
“We've also indicated in the key what time of year plants are likely to be in flower, which helps to correctly identify a species,” Mr Adams explains. “And now that we're going into spring, many plants will be coming into flower.”
The key is very straightforward to use and includes a glossary of terms and checklists of the plants sorted by both family and genus.
To further aid identification, photos of the native plants in the key – many donated by local environment group Friends of the Aranda Bushland – are incorporated in the web-based update.
Though written exclusively around the flora of the Black Mountain, Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura areas, the key is also relevant to most of the indigenous woody flora of Canberra's Native Park system.
The key is available on the Centre for Plant Biodiversity website, together with a PDF version without photos which can be printed and taken into the field.
The Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research (CPBR) is a joint venture between CSIRO Plant Industry and the Department of the Environment and Water Resources.
‘Key to the trees and shrubs of Black Mountain, Mt Ainslie and Mount Majura' is available at
Laurie Adams, CSIRO Plant Industry 02 6246 5123
Laurie.Adams@csiro.au
Alexandra Pelvin, CSIRO Plant Industry 02 6246 5485
Alex.Pelvin@csiro.au