Published Wednesday, 04 July, 2007 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
'GOSS' NAME PLANTED IN HISTORY
Former Queensland Premier Wayne Goss has been honoured for his commitment to conservation by having a group of plants named after him – the Genus Gossia.
Launching the latest Queensland flora census at the Queensland Herbarium in Brisbane, Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the new Genus Gossia arose from a review of the classification of that group of plants.
“Queensland boasts the greatest bio-diversity of any state in Australia,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“New species are being discovered on a regular basis with 300 new species identified in Queensland in the past five years.
“This new classification and naming recognises Mr Goss’s significant contribution to this State.
“As Premier from 1989-1996, Mr Goss signed off on the Nature Conservation Act (1992), increased the area of national park estate, and approved construction of the Queensland Herbarium building.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said representatives of the Genus Gossia, which had 20 described species occurring in Queensland and further species occurring in Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.
“The Gossias include such interesting species as the python tree (Gossia bidwillii), which was around in the Gondwanic era when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and can withstand harsh summers and very dry conditions.
“The endangered species Gossia gonoclada, the angle-stemmed myrtle, grows along the lower reaches of the Brisbane and Logan Rivers and is the focus of local conservation efforts to save the species.”
The 2007 plant census is based on the extensive collections of 730,000 specimens housed at the Queensland Herbarium, managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Mr Goss said he had always been a supporter of the Queensland Herbarium’s work and was honoured that Dr Gordon Guymer, the Director of the Queensland Herbarium, and Dr Neil Snow had elected to name this genus of plants after him.
“The Queensland Herbarium’s work, particularly the development of this census, is vital to the ongoing protection and development of native plant species in this State,” Mr Goss said.
“To have a genus of plants that are mainly of Queensland origin named after me is a great honour and one that my family will cherish for generations to come.”
Queensland Herbarium Chief Scientist Ailsa Holland, who played a leading role in this census, said the information would be a vital resource for environmental managers, researchers, and plant enthusiasts.
“This census, available in book and CD formats, could assist emerging industries such as bio-discovery, and the development of native species crops based on the rich diversity of plant life in this state,” Ms Holland said.
“The collections and information are the culmination of hundreds of years of collecting, analysis and identification by taxonomists and collectors across Queensland.”
Media contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Lisa Gilby 3336 8002
Launching the latest Queensland flora census at the Queensland Herbarium in Brisbane, Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the new Genus Gossia arose from a review of the classification of that group of plants.
“Queensland boasts the greatest bio-diversity of any state in Australia,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“New species are being discovered on a regular basis with 300 new species identified in Queensland in the past five years.
“This new classification and naming recognises Mr Goss’s significant contribution to this State.
“As Premier from 1989-1996, Mr Goss signed off on the Nature Conservation Act (1992), increased the area of national park estate, and approved construction of the Queensland Herbarium building.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said representatives of the Genus Gossia, which had 20 described species occurring in Queensland and further species occurring in Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.
“The Gossias include such interesting species as the python tree (Gossia bidwillii), which was around in the Gondwanic era when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and can withstand harsh summers and very dry conditions.
“The endangered species Gossia gonoclada, the angle-stemmed myrtle, grows along the lower reaches of the Brisbane and Logan Rivers and is the focus of local conservation efforts to save the species.”
The 2007 plant census is based on the extensive collections of 730,000 specimens housed at the Queensland Herbarium, managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Mr Goss said he had always been a supporter of the Queensland Herbarium’s work and was honoured that Dr Gordon Guymer, the Director of the Queensland Herbarium, and Dr Neil Snow had elected to name this genus of plants after him.
“The Queensland Herbarium’s work, particularly the development of this census, is vital to the ongoing protection and development of native plant species in this State,” Mr Goss said.
“To have a genus of plants that are mainly of Queensland origin named after me is a great honour and one that my family will cherish for generations to come.”
Queensland Herbarium Chief Scientist Ailsa Holland, who played a leading role in this census, said the information would be a vital resource for environmental managers, researchers, and plant enthusiasts.
“This census, available in book and CD formats, could assist emerging industries such as bio-discovery, and the development of native species crops based on the rich diversity of plant life in this state,” Ms Holland said.
“The collections and information are the culmination of hundreds of years of collecting, analysis and identification by taxonomists and collectors across Queensland.”
Media contact: Karla Steen 3336 8004 or Lisa Gilby 3336 8002