Re: NZ Metrosideros (was Street trees)
- Subject: Re: NZ Metrosideros (was Street trees)
- From: J* D*
- Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2002 09:27:58 -0700 (PDT)
There are more M. excelsa weeds in San Francisco than
M. robusta. There are only a few old Rata around town,
but they are gorgeous in bloom. Pohutukawa establishes
on irrigated tree trunks and in cracks in the
sidewalk. However I've never seen a seedling Rata as a
weed in SF. I think only areas with heavy summer fog
drip could support it, like Mt. Sutro, Mt. Davidson,
and the Presidio. I doubt there are nearby trees that
could distribute seed there.
Here's an article about Pohutukawa invading fynbos
near Capetown, South Africa:
http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/ipc/rich/metrosid.htm
-Jason Dewees
San Francisco
--- Barry Garcia <barry_garcia@csumb.edu> wrote:
> theryans@xtra.co.nz writes:
> >This species is hardier than M excelsa and occurs
> naturally right to the
> >southen tip of North Island, including the local
> bush in our area, but
> >many have been lost over the years as it is, alas,
> a very favoured food
> >among our worst local bush pests the Australian
> Brush-tailed Possums,
> >whose tendency to concentrate on one tree until it
> is totally defoliated
> >has led to the death of many a fine Rata. Strenuous
> efforts have been
> >made in recent times to control these creatures and
> with their reduction
> >we hope the remaining mature trees will survive and
> replacements get the
> >chance to grow.
>
> Hmm...i wonder if the Rata has a tendency to go wild
> in places it is not
> native (since you say it is hardier than M. excelsa,
> i think it would do
> just fine here). With it's sometimes epiphytic and
> then strangler nature i
> could see people angrily tearing out beautiful large
> Rata due to them
> invading forests :) (hey, it could happen....i dont
> think most though
> Senicio mikianoides would turn out to be such a pest
> when they introduced
> it in California).
>
> __________________________
> Well you'd like to think that you were invincible.
> Yeah, well weren't we all once before we felt loss
> for the first time?
>
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