Re: Psoralea pinnata

Dear Irene,

It makes a small shrubby tree, 3-4m tall and about the same across. It
is relatively short lived, about 7 - 10 years I recall from when I grew
it. The timber is brittle too and barnches will snap in strong winds,
esp if the folaige is weighed down with rain drops. Prefers well drained
loamy soils, or sandy, but not heavy clays. Can't say I ever observed
and seedling growth tho' it developed some seeds every year. I wondered
if it was reliant of fire to trigger germination, or maybe to pass
through the stomach of a bird or ruminant - cow, horse, wilderbeest etc.
It is listed here now as having weed potential but I still haven't seen
any growing naturalised so I'm perplexed about just exactly the
conditions necessary for the potential to be realised.

regards

trevor n


Trevor Nottle
Manager - Education
Torrens Valley TAFE
Centre for Horticulture
505 Fullarton Road
Netherby 
SA  5062

Tel. (61+8) 8372 6801
Fax. (61+8) 8372 6888

>>> Irene Kuffel <ikuffel@cisco.com> 9/02/2004 2:01:20 pm >>>
Hello all,

   I made an impulse buy of a psoralea pinnata this weekend,
   and now, in researching its care on the web, I see that it
   shows up in a few weed compendiums, though without any
   information as to exactly how it is invasive.
   (Wouldn't it be nice if nurseries and plant sales provided
    online access, so one could google _before_ buying. :-)))

   It's native to S. Africa, and does seem to be cultivated
   in Australia and NZ, so perhaps some of you in the So.
   hemisphere can advise? Is it only invasive in wet lands?
   I'm nowhere close to streams, and plan on putting it in
   a fairly dry area - will it flourish on low water?

Thanks in advance,

-- Irene 

Irene Kuffel
Napa Valley, California.
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