Australian Rainforest Seeds

Reviews

"The book is what all native plant nurseries and native plant enthusiasts in NSW 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."
Glenn Leiper, Native Plants Queensland

"For anyone with even a slight interest in rainforest plants and a wish to grow their own, this book is a ‘must have’. It is highly practical and informative, easy to read, and the photographs add immeasurably to its usefulness in assisting with recognition of the rainforest fruits. Highly recommended."
Tony Cavanagh, Growing Australian No. 252, June 2020

"The expertise and transparency within this book will propel the rainforest restoration industry forward, whether that be for commercial nurseries or background growers. It can, and should, be used to inspire research and review industry standards. A wonderful resource for those who appreciate rainforests.
Deborah Metters, Land for Wildlife South East Queensland Newsletter, May 2020

"This book is a standout piece of knowledge, accessibility and beauty. A must have for anyone restoring rainforest in Northern New South Wales and South East Queensland."
Spencer Shaw, Australian Association of Bush Regenerators News No. 144, May 2020

Details

Paperback | February 2020 | $ 49.99
ISBN: 9781486311507 | 216 pages | 245 x 170 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Colour photographs

ePDF | February 2020
ISBN: 9781486311514
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

ePUB | February 2020
ISBN: 9781486311521
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Available from eRetailers

Features

• An A-Z guide with instructions for collecting, storing and propagating the seeds of 300 subtropical rainforest species
• 300 colour photographs provided for easy fruit identification and seed collection
• Detailed techniques for preparing seeds for successful germination
• An easy-to-understand guide to fruit types and seed biology
• Propagation instructions to suit nurseries from the backyard to commercial

Contents

Foreword
Preface
About the authors
About the photographer
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Biology and ecology
3. Collecting
4. Processing
5. Storage
6. Propagation
7. A-Z species guide
Glossary
References
Index of common names
Index of scientific names

View the full table of contents (PDF, 63kb)

Authors

Mark Dunphy has worked in rainforest restoration for 35 years. He has worked as a rainforest regenerator, ecological restoration consultant and nursery owner of Firewheel Rainforest Nursery on the North Coast of NSW. He has worked on over 100 projects and grown over 1 million trees. A regular presenter at rainforest restoration field days, workshops and conferences, his work has appeared in the Australian Journal of Ecological Management and in the book Subtropical Rainforest Restoration: A Practical Manual and Data Source for Landcare Groups, Land Managers and Rainforest Regenerators.

Steve McAlpin has extensive expertise in both rainforest and arid zone ecology and has an MSc in conservation ecology. He has worked as a botanic garden curator, plant propagator and ABC talkback gardener, as well as leading numerous flora and fauna surveys. Steve’s research has been widely published in Australian and international journals and he has written a ‘recovery plan’ for the nationally Vulnerable Great Desert Skink and co-authored a book on central Australian threatened species. Steve is currently using skills developed across more than 15 years of living in the NSW subtropics to collect seed and propagate plants for Firewheel Rainforest Nursery.

Paul Nelson has been a professional rainforest seed collector and propagator for 20 years. Paul’s knowledge of rainforest botany and ecology has made him a recognised leader in the field of rainforest seed collection and propagation. Many of the breakthroughs in propagation at Firewheel Rainforest Nursery have been due to Paul’s work in this field. Paul is a regular speaker at field days and conferences and runs workshops and training modules.

Michelle Chapman is a consultant for ActivatED and has been developing programs and facilitating workshops around the world for 15 years. Most recently, as Education and Sustainability Manager for Greenpop (South Africa), she co-managed the Cape Town Urban Greening Program and developed and facilitated tree planting workshops for Trees for Zambia: Conference of Action and two South African reforestation festivals. Michelle is passionate about inspiring and facilitating the community protection and restoration of subtropical rainforest.

Hugh Nicholson established Terania Rainforest Nursery with his partner Nan in the 1970s. His photographs are included in their Australian Rainforest Plants books (volumes I-VI). He has also supplied photographs to Australian and international magazines and books, and national parks and tourist information displays. In 2006, Hugh was appointed as the Federal Government conservation representative on the Community Advisory Committee for the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Most recently, he has supplied most of the 12,000 photographs for the interactive rainforest plant identification key Rainforest Plants of Australia: Rockhampton to Victoria.