Preventing the extinction of the Mt Cassell Grevillea in Victoria
Grevillea microstegia (Mt Cassell Grevillea) is a critically endangered Victorian endemic found only in the northeastern part of the Grampians around Mt Cassell, accounting for the species’ common name.
As part of the ‘Preventing the extinction of Victoria’s threatened flora’ project funded by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s Nature Fund, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria staff have conducted comprehensive surveys of the species with project partners, whilst simultaneously collecting seeds for long-term banking, tissue samples for genetic analysis, and cuttings for ex situ cultivation.
Seeds of the Mt Cassell Grevillea are difficult to collect in large quantities owing to low yields, and even more challenging to germinate. Recently, Victorian Conservation Seedbank staff successfully germinated this species in the lab setting by fully removing the seed coat, allowing them to document the germination process.
Germinating plants – Credit: Robert Hare
Whilst more labor intensive than the heat or chemical batch-treatments required by other hard-to-germinate species, manual seed coat removal is straightforward if fiddly! This significant development will help us to more effectively conserve the Mt Cassell Grevillea and support future restoration efforts.
Image showing manual seed coat removal – Credit: Hongxiang Zhang
Main image: Grevillea microstegia – Credit: Noushka Reiter
The ‘Preventing the extinction of Victoria’s threatened flora’ project is led by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in partnership with La Trobe University, Australian Network for Plant Conservation, DEECA, Parks Victoria, Trust for Nature, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, Nillumbik Shire, ENVITE, Bairnsdale & District Field Naturalists Club, Friends of the Grampians Gariwerd, WAMA Botanic Gardens, Halls Gap Botanic Gardens, and the Australasian Native Orchid Society Victorian Branch.