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Weinmannia spp

Tim: Torn between envy (self-seedlings, curse it! not even the guys at
Mt Stewart could claim that their plants were THAT much at home, even
in that pretty convincing imitation of NZ; at least I don't think so -
there are whole groves of self-seeded myrtles there but seedlings of
weinmannia, I think not) and gratitude (for offer of seeds: for which
many thanks; I'll do my best to compose myself in patience until this
season's seeds have ripened). 

From your description of the NZ sp., it sounds very similar to the
Chilean one. At least, the effect of the flowers when they're out is
very similar. I haven't seen them in bud so can't swear to similarity
there. 

Any taxonomist among us know what in fact ARE the differences between
these spp? Come to that, Tim, what's the difference - or what are the
differences - between W. racemosa and W. silvicola? 

Which of course I'd never heard of before your message. Would that
have similar hardiness levels, do you think? I don't suppose Le Jardin
Dutton contains a seed-bearing example or two of that sp as well, by
any chance...?!

I tried chasing Weinmannias on some of the obvious botanical searches,
such as Plantlink, but didn't get very far. Most of the refs. were to
obviously tropical spp. There were a few not very enlightening refs.
to W. racemosa (I gather it's the bee's knees as far as NZ bees are
concerned - and that the fruits are edible: tasty? or just
feasible-if-you're-desperate?), still fewer to  W. tricuspidata, and
none at all of W. silvicola. There's a description and (not very good)
photograph of W. tricuspidata on the interesting web site of the
Ventnor Botanic Garden (http:www.botanic.co.uk), which shows that it
CAN be grown successfully in the (admittedly very mildest parts of)
the UK mainland. Thus encouraged...

Your message has definitely brightened a day otherwise darkened by yet
another forecast of ground-frost for tonight - at least that's to be
the case inland from us though I HOPE not here, right by the sea...
And midsummer's day is only a week away. What was that about 'The
English are so lucky, with their perfect climate for gardening...'?
Ha!

Cheers
Tim

Tim Longville
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