The University of Queensland has snared a contract to develop 60,000 flannel flower plants as the official floral emblem for New South Wales Centennial celebrations.
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is working with the University of Queensland's Gatton College School of Land and Food and Brisbane-based Birkdale Nursery to develop three flannel flower types for the project.
School researcher Ian Gordon said the deal was a coup for Queensland and recognised the College's expertise in propagation and grafting techniques.
The new varieties are protected under Plant Breeders Rights. It is estimated 250,000 Starbright, Parkes Star and Star Baby varieties will be available for sale in New South Wales by the Centenary of Federation in 2001.
Native to inland and some coastal areas of New South Wales and Queensland, the flower has beautiful, soft, white petals and silvery foliage.
Mr Gordon said the University's role in the project was to grow the three cultivars in tissue culture eventually transferring them to 50mm nursery tubes for transportation to New South Wales nurseries.
Horticulture Group Tissue Culture Laboratory manager Ross Bourne said staff were well on the way to providing the required 60,000 plants by the first half of next year.
One of the keys to the project had been a high level of laboratory hygiene to avoid bacterial and fungal contamination of the tiny plants while growing in agar, he said.
Mr Gordon (at right inspecting a flannel flower) said the Group became involved in the project following an approach from Birkdale Nursery production manager and Gatton College graduate Peter Lewis.
State-of-the-art Plant Propagation Greenhouses in the Plant Nursery Unit have been funded by the Nursery as part of a $1 million project propagating another native plant, Caustis (koala fern) with the School's Dr Margaret Johnston.
Once contained in the 50mm pots, the flannel flowers spend six weeks in the light and humidity controlled greenhouse environment before being placed outside in normal conditions.
"The flannel flower project has further enhanced the Group's credibility with the Australian nursery industry and will lead to other projects," Mr Gordon said.
"It has also given our students valuable experience with a commercial project."
For more information, contact Ian Gordon (telephone 07 5460 1235).
