Three months of Gum Tree Guardians!

Hello Gum Tree Guardians!

I'm thrilled to welcome any new members to our amazing community. Thanks to your hard work and dedication, we've been able to keep a watchful eye on the health of our Myrtaceae plants, especially with the recent detection of myrtle rust on Lord Howe Island.

Since I launched the Gum Tree Guardians project in January, we've had a whopping 42 members join us! Together, you've logged 32 observations of myrtle rust infected plants from the Sunshine Coast all the way to Northern Tasmania. Thank you so much for your efforts - we couldn't do this without you.

It's important to note that myrtle rust symptoms can take many forms, not just the tell-tale yellow spores. It could look like pimple-like bumps, twisted leaves, or even dark patches on the leaves or stems. By sharing your photos and data of infected Myrtaceae plants on iNaturalist, we can better understand the impact of myrtle rust and develop strategies to protect our precious native plants.

Remember, if you come across a myrtle rust infected plant, don't touch it! The spores can spread easily, so it's best to keep your hands off. Take a picture of the infected material, and some photos of the entire plant if possible, to help us identify the host plant. Then, upload the photos to iNaturalist, including the location, which will automatically add the image to the Gum Tree Guardians project.

Being a Gum Tree Guardian is about more than just monitoring and reporting on myrtle rust infected plants. It's also about raising awareness of the importance of Myrtaceae plants in our unique ecosystem. These plants provide essential food and shelter for our native animals, so it's critical we keep them healthy and thriving.

I can't thank you enough for your contribution so far, and I encourage you to keep up the fantastic work. If your friends or family aren't already part of the Gum Tree Guardians project on iNaturalist, why not encourage them to join us and start making a difference today? Together, we can protect our native Myrtaceae plants and preserve our beautiful ecosystem for generations to come.

Thank you again for your contribution to science,
Alyssa

Posted on April 2, 2023 03:00 AM by myrtle_rust_martino