Study Groups ....digging deeper

Early on in the Society's history it was realised that knowledge about the cultivation of Australian native plants was very limited and there was little published information available. One way to help overcome this deficiency was to set up specialist Study Groups whose aim was to record the successes (and failures) of growing Australian species in various localities. Over the years these Groups have contributed valuable data which is assisting today's growers. But there is still a great deal to learn...

Study Groups undertake the study of some particular aspect of Australian plants (usually a genus or a related group of genera). Each Study Group consists of a leader, active members who participate in any studies and (sometimes) a number of passive members who receive Group newsletters but take no active part in the Group's activities.

Active members collect information on the plants being studied and forward their observations to the leader who collates and publishes the information, usually in a newsletter or in other Society publications. The type of observations recorded can be any aspect of cultivation, propagation and ecology of the plants under study. Study Group leaders usually charge a small fee to cover expenses such as newsletter production and postage.

Study Groups allow members with specific interests to develop that interest to the fullest extent and to contribute in a practical way to the body of knowledge on the Australian flora. Membership of Study Groups is only available to members of ASGAP-affiliated Societies.

Current study groups are: