Plant named to honour conservationist

Environmental conservation legend Michael Tichbon had a plant named after him last month.

Mr Tichbon founded the Capel Land Conservation District Council 24 years ago and also had a park named after him in Capel.

He has made a substantial contribution to the conservation of the flora in the South West.

He is a long-time supporter of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy which manages Mount Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary.

The species that is named after him is found at the wildlife park.

Mr Tichbon said he was proud to have the rare plant species Hemigenia tichbonii named after him.

It is isolated in two locations at Mount Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary and is being propagated at Kings Park, in Perth.

“In winter next year we will get the plant here,” Mr Tichbon said.

“It is one to one and a half metres high and flowers for around three months a year.

“I would like to see it develop as a popular garden species as it is suitable to areas worldwide.”

He hopes to encourage people to grow more native species in their own garden.

He said native species did not require as much water and this was suitable to Western Australia’s dry climate.

The park named in his honour is on the corner of Hasties Road and Palmer Place in Gelorup.

Mr Tichbon’s vision is to see the park developed further by adding more plants and growing the tuart bushland area in the centre of the park.