Drawings of two new Eucalypt Species by Newcastle Graduate

A recent exhibition of illustrations and photographs in Perth by Anne Llewellyn and Herbert Heinrich has resulted in a collaborative work with Luke Sweedman, Curator of the Western Australian Seed Technology Centre at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens. The Director of KPBG Dr. Steve Hopper (now Director of Kew Gardens in London) honoured Luke in the naming of a newly-described species of eucalypt. After Anne and Herbert's "Voyage of Discovery" exhibition, they were asked to prepare artwork of these new species.

2007 Bachelor of Natural History Illustration graduate, Christine Rockley was commissioned to complete the initial scientific illustrations of the eucalypts from the biodiversity-rich Southwest Australia floral region. Christine, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Natural History Illustration and also completed an intensive internship with the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney during January, drew directly from fresh specimens shipped especially from their tiny population sites in Cape Arid National Park east of Esperance. The works are highly detailed pencil scale drawings of the identifying features of the plants.

The new species are Eucalyptus sweedmaniana (ms), a very small lignotuberous mallee and E. gradybrandiana (ms), a non-lignotuberous mallet both of which have been separated from E. tetraptera, a group with spectacular large red flowers and fruits.

Anne Llewellyn, Deputy HOS of DCIT and senior lecturer in the Natural History Illustration programme proudly presented the artworks to Luke Sweedman during his visit to Sydney last week. It is planned to prepare further inked drawings and watercolours of both new species.