Safeguarding the Gully Grevillea from Fire
Learn how the Australian Seed Bank Partnership successfully secured seed to protect this unique tree from increased fire frequency within its range.
By Australian Seed Bank Partnership
Victorian Conservation Seedbank, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Grevillea barklyana flower (2003) by Murray FaggAustralian Seed Bank Partnership
Grevillea barklyana is a small tree with pink flowers in ‘toothbrush-type’ clusters, and large, green leaves with zig zagged edges. It belongs to the iconic Australian genus, Grevillea. Most Grevillea species have flowers that co-evolved with honeyeaters.
Sweet nectar feast
When these birds feed on the nectar of one flower the feathers on their face become covered in pollen. When they visit another flower for their next sweet nectar feast, the pollen from the previous flower is transferred. The honeyeater is unaware that they are helping with the pollination.
Grevillea barklyana large leaf (2016) by Andre MessinaAustralian Seed Bank Partnership
Growth from the ashes
As with most grevilleas, G. barklyana are killed by fire. But this species has a way of surviving even when mature individuals are lost. Heat and chemical changes from the fire stimulate seeds stored in the soil seedbank to germinate, producing a new generation of Gully Grevilleas.
Grevillea barklyana inflorescence (2016) by Neville WalshAustralian Seed Bank Partnership
Obligate seeder
As the Gully Grevillea relies on the seeds in the soil seed bank to germinate, the species is known as an obligate seeder.
In ‘normal’ conditions occasional fires allow populations of obligate seeders to be ‘refreshed’. Fires remove old individuals that may have reduced vigour or low seed productivity.
Floral abundance
The first cohort of seedlings following the Black Saturday fires flowered abundantly in 2015. The Victorian Conservation Seedbank made the first conservation seed collection of G. barklyana that very year. Despite a good flowering, the first collection was smaller than desired.
Second seed collection
A second visit was made in 2016, resulting in a good seed collection for storage at the Victorian Conservation Seedbank. Fortunately, another fire in 2019 that burnt large areas of the Bunyip State Park was extinguished before it spread to the Grevillea populations.
Grevillea barklyana flower (2007) by Murray FaggAustralian Seed Bank Partnership
Danger of extinction
Seedlings of Grevillea barklyana do not become reproductive for several years after germination to allow replenishment of the soil seedbank. If fire frequency increases it is possible that the seedbank will be exhausted and the species may become extinct.
It's essential to safeguard this species by securely banking its seeds. If the Gully Grevillea disappears from the wild, banked seeds can be used to grow plants which can be reintroduced. This also ensures the survival of honeyeaters and other nectar feeders which rely on this plant as an important food source.
Our Millennium Seed Bank by RBG KewRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Global Tree Seed Bank Project
Seeds from Grevillea barklyana and other threatened tree species from Victoria are being securely stored at the Victorian Conservation Seedbank and duplicated at the Millennium Seed Bank in the UK.
Learn more about the Victorian Conservation Seedbank here.
Stories compiled through a science communication internship at the Australian Seed Bank Partnership with Master of Science Communication student Christine Fernance from the ANU Centre for the Public Awareness of Science.
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