Aotus

I asked a question about these babies a while back and no one was able
to come up with any info. A friend has now sent me some photocopies of
material on them (he slyly didn't say where the material was from -
some substantial work on Aus/NZ plants but considering them as garden
plants as much as in the wild - possible author/s, anyone?). So I can
tell those breathlessly waiting that they seem quite interesting.
Quotes in support of that notion follow:

Aotus, from Greek, a, without, oous, otus, ear, because bracteoles are
lacking. An endemic genus of about 15 spp. Mainly confined to s-w WA
but also occurring in s Qld, east NSW, Vic, Tas and temperate SA,
where they grow in sandy and clay loam soils. Little is known about
cultivation, as only one species, A. ericoides, has been grown to any
extent. Some spp have decorative foliage and flower colour
combinations which merit their trial in cultivation. They often grow
in wet or swampy conditions, and so may be suitable for heavy soils.

Examples of spp:

A. carinata, small shrub, with silky leaves in whorls of three and
pea-shaped flowers, orange and yellow with purple;

A. ericoides, small shrub, stems often covered in rust-coloured hair,
leaves in dense whorls of three, flowers pea-shaped, yellow and red -
'a very adaptable sp that will grow in a wide range of soil and
climatic conditions - it will withstand wet soils for extended periods
and is fairly hardy to frost. Suitable also for slight coastal
exposure - ornamental when in bloom and an ideal garden shrub'; 

A. phylicoides, dwarf shrub, much branched, branches ccovered in dense
white hairs, leaves shiny above, densely hairy below, flowers in
terminal racemes orange-yellow and purple - 'this sp has hte most
outstanding display of flowers for the genus, but it is not well-known
in cultivation. It needs well drained soils and should grow in dappled
shade. Being found naturally in coastal areas, it should be useful in
similar locations.' 

Other spp mentioned include: A. cordifolia, A. genistoides, A.
lanigera, A. mollis (particularly fine foliage, densely hairy above
and below and with revolute margins to the leaves), A. passerinoides,
A. preissii, A. subglauca. Details of these available if someone is
wildly smitten but they mostly sound very similar ('as like as two
peas in a pod'?!) - dwarf shrubs with (mostly) red and yellow flowers.

NB Final comment: 'Plants can readily be grown from seed.'

Ok, now: anybody know where seed can be got? Is Matt still listening
in?

I saw the sun today! Gosh!!
Tim on the Solway Coast, UK
Tim Longville
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