Re: Running Postman

Kaj Dorstenia wrote:
> 
> Greetings
> 
> Some weeks ago I got some seed from an Australian Nursery,
> which sells seeds from WILD Australian plants.........
> I have got Rose Cone-Flower, Beautiful Honey Myrtle, Tail-Leaf Wattle
> and many others - they germinate fine now we have the danish
> midsummer.
> But now my problem: I also got Kennedia prostrata, which in Austrilaia
> is
> called RUNNING POSTMAN - why this name?? - And another one
> Dodonaea viscosa - which is called HOP-BUSH - why?
> 

I was waiting to see if anyone more expert was going to answer Kaj -

You seem to have got all Western Australian plants - well they're the
best! ;)

Running Postman (or Scarlet Runner) - the running refers, obviously, to
its growing habit running along the ground; the scarlet pea flowers
reminded people, I think, of the "pillar-box red" colour associated
here, as in England, with the Postal Service - colour of mail boxes,
vans etc.

As for Hop Bush, the fruits are attractive and maybe reminded people of
the hops used in brewing of beer, though from what I see the resemblance
is not very strong.


> This days in Denmark are extra hot; as much as 88 drgree F.
> Primo February this year I planted a few seeds of Baobab-tree,
> Adansonia digitata, known from the African Savannas - where it looks
> beautiful there. Because the hot wether here this days I put my pots
> out in my garden and in 4 days the cotyledon-plant of Adansonia got
> about 2-3 inches high - so surely I am happy. -
> Maybe this is a little off-topic, but I konw that som species of
> Adansonia
> are growing wild in NW-Australia. Do they have pachycaule
> (bottle-formed)
> stems like the African?

Yes, they do. But they are very slow-growing! Kings Park Botanic Garden
last year acquired three trees from the North-West which are 100 years
old and still quite small.

Good luck with your plants!

Beverly

-- 
Julius and Beverly Elischer
Perth, Western Australia
Ph. +61 8 9386 5244
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