Re: Proteaceous Plants
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Proteaceous Plants
- From: M* T* F*
- Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 07:45:28 -1000
Actually, I will have to disagree on several points. The silky oak grows
just fine up in Kula to the point that it is a weed. Right now and as it
has been allmost every year we are under a drought watch. These trees grow
huge and will take over pasture, etc here in Upcountry Maui. Second point
my in laws don't have a constant irrigation system so most of the fields
are dependant on the rains for water yet all the Proteas, Leucodendrons,
and Banksias are doing OK. I will submitt that they are drought tolerant
(perhaps not evolved for true dry season conditions). Third most of the
research regarding over fertilization of proteaceous plants in Hawaii has
come from work on Macadamias. I suspect that our odd soils make for some
intresting problems with phosphrus as much of it gets tied up via the iron
and alluminum oxides.
MTF
>
>There are of course many many species of Protaceae that aren't mediterranian
>or drought-tolerant, including some that are native to tropical and
>sub-tropical rainforest, and which can take as much phosphorous as you care
>to throw at them. These include the various species of Macadamias, as well
>as Grevillea robusta (silky oak), G. baileyana, G. hilliana (all trees), and
>many other genera which are probably less widely available. Some Hakeas also
>grow in the rainforest, but no Banksias and Leucodendrons AFAIK. For
>drought-tolerance (especially dry summers), you should probably stick to
>species from inland or SW Australia, or (I presume) the South African veldt.
>
>John.
Mach T. Fukada
AKA member 07778
fukada@aloha.net
MACh Tech,
Macintosh Computer and Agriculture/Aquaculture Consulting
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