207-212 The Horticulture of Australian Plants

207-105 Horticulture II and 202-103 Biology for Land and Food Resources.

The object of this subject is to extend the participants ability to:

• demonstrate an understanding of ecology and biology of Australian plant groups and the importance of this knowledge in the horticulture of plants;

• describe and perform the skills involved in propagation and cultivation of Australian plants as nursery and floriculture species;

• demonstrate an understanding of the role of Australian plants in the urban landscape and of the specialised management of these plants; and

• identify and describe the cultural requirements of up to 200 plant species.

The content includes:

• the history of cultivation and use of Australian plants in Australia and overseas;

• environmental adaptions in Australian flora and how this knowledge is used in horticulture;

• propagation of Australian plants with emphasis on nursery production and direct landscape establishment - seed, cuttings, grafting and micropropagation;

• nursery production of Australian plants: nutrition (including specialised root systems and associations), container production scheduling for different end uses;

• use of Australian plants in urban landscapes (street and open space trees, shrubs, groundcover, grasses and forbs);

• selection and breeding of Australian plants for landscape use;

• floriculture of Australian species - selection, breeding and cultivation - a case study of commercial development;

• bushfoods, extraction of bioactive compounds and other applications; and

• identification and cultural requirements of 150-200 native plant species.

A 2-hour examination (40% of total marks), two 45-minute plant tests (each 10% of final marks), practical reports equivalent to 2000 words (25% of final marks), group assignment of 2000 words (15% of final marks).