Re: Aciphylla seedlings

-----Original Message-----
From: D.Slootmans <d.slootmans@worldonline.nl>
To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: 19 July 2003 12:25
Subject: Aciphylla seedlings


Dear Members ,

i have a quest for those who are familiar with Aciphylla , ten years ago  i
had a tray with A.aurea seedlings ,
after transplanting only one survived , it turned out to be a good garden
subject ,with not even a leaf damaged
in the most severe winter weather. (durationfrost without snowcover to -10
Celsius)

but it is in need of partners if i ever want to collect a seed of it , so
there is a new sowing ,prolific germination
again ,but now i feel the need to get some info ,to avoid a disappointment
again ,are they bad transplanters ?,like
i noticed with other umbellifers .any clue or hint is very welcome



David Slootmans
Botanic Garden Westmaas
P.O.Box 5940
3273 ZG Westmaas
The Netherlands
NPC Cytisus ,Genista ,Cistus,Halimium ,
d.slootmans@worldonline.nl
botanische.tuin-westmaas@worldmail.nl


Hi David - I've had no experience of these from seed myself. I remember
someone telling me once though that they don't transplant well, due to their
having a very strong taproot & little laterals. You don't say if you were
planting in community trays or into plugs. I'd suggest if you were trying to
transplant from a community tray you might be breaking the taproot & losing
them that way. Perhaps planting seed into individual speedling tray plugs
would get around the problem.

I remember the Aciphylla, from hiking days in New Zealand, where they grow
in the subalpine zones & are known as prickly spaniards. How the Spanish
ever got the blame for them there I never worked out. They can be a pretty
lethal plant & each leaf is a rigid spear point in itself. A clump of them
makes an impenetrable mass.
I've been contemplating growing them ( they'd be a complete bitch to move
around though ) as a security barrier plant around property perimeters. Does
anyone have any experience growing them in totally inappropriate dry Med.
zones.?  Where are their growth limits ?

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
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