This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: Introducing Myself

Susan.George@dtf.vic.gov.au wrote:
> 
> Thank you for your interesting note on Mr Phillpotts and his shrubs - I
> will be looking out for the book. As for the shrubs that you ask about, I
> grow both Bowkeria gerrardiana (a South African with white 'calceolaria'
> like flowers in summer) and Luculia gratissima.
> 
> The Bowkeria was given to me as a birthday present in June (I live in
> Australia, about 70km from Melbourne - so that is winter for me!) so I this
> will be its first summer with me and have therefore yet to see it flower. I
> have planted it at the back of a semishaded boarder (morning sun - but
> shaded in the afternoon). I live close to the sea (perhaps about 100m?) so
> my soil is quite sandy, but I enrich it considerably with compost, manure
> and mulch when I plant and then annually. It seems happy enough at the
> moment - but as you point out info on it seems a bit scarce. The only brief
> reference I have found so far is in Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs,
> but I have no info on natural habitat.
> 
> I have grown the Luculia for years - it prefers half shade also. It likes
> moisture, although it will tolerate some dryness (it does not necessarily
> enjoy it). It has a tendency to become leggy so after flowering it should
> be pruned and it responds well with new growth. I find it semi deciduous.
> Best of all the fragrance of the flowers is just wonderful!
> 
> I would be interested in finding out anything you know about some of the
> other plants on your list eg Inga, Manettia, Pavia, Grabowskia, Peumus,
> Entelea and Hermannia (you said some species come from Australia - but I
> cannot find any reference so far that talks about it?).
> 
> I also received another plant as a present recently - Brachyglottis repanda
> purpurea (the common name is apparently 'Bushman's Toilet Paper') from NZ -
> does anyone have info on it?
 
 Susan 

Brachyglottis repanda is known in New Zealand, where it is native, as
Rangiora (the Maori name) or sometimes as the Bushman's Friend!

An endemic with one species, it is closely related to Senecio. From my
book "It grows into a rather wide-spreading bush 1.8 - 3 metres in
height and as much or more across (But may be restricted by pruning). It
makes a handsome foliage plant ... and may be used as a apecimen shrub
or for background.. in the shrub border. The cream coloured flowers are
fragrant and usually produced abundantly. It grows well in shade and can
be used to fill gaps under large trees. It is (also) suitable for
growing in exposed situations  as it is quite wind-hardy. Almost any
soil except a wet one is suitable."

It is slightly frost tender (especially when young), but only to
extremely heavy frosts. It grows wild in my part of the country where we
occasionaly get frosts of about -6 degrees centigrade and doesn't seem
bothered. It grows naturally in coastal and lowland forests, especially
in our North Island.

It is apparently poisonous, especially the flowerheads, though I never
heard of anybody being poisoned by it. It causes a form of intoxication
in horses.

Var purpurea, has of course a distinct purple colour to the leaves. It
was discovered in the wild by someone clearing bush, who only noticed
its unusual colour after he had cut it down (fortunately, he was
sufficiently interested to take cuttings!).
"
I ran through you list of unusual genera with the Australian Wildflower
Catalogue and not one of them is in it, however Entelia is definitely  a
New Zealand native, in fact an endemic with just the one species which
is however closely allied to the South African Sparmannia.

Entelia arborescens (Tiliaceae - Lime tree family) Maori name Whau.
I have seen it growing, though I do not have it myself. It is popular in
gardens, but now rare in the wild because it makes good feed for
browsing animals. 

I quote from  "The Cultivation of NZ Trees and Shrubs"

"A handsome and distinctive tree or shrub easily recognised by its large
leaves and bristly seed capsules. With its bold foliage and rather
tropical appearance (it) is an outstanding plant for the garden ..(and)
can be grown as a large shrub or trained as a tree... The  white flowers
are abundantly produced... prefers a good soil and  a sheltered
position... likes a moist soil, but will endure considerable dryness
when well established. It is frost-tender and is suitable for growing
only in districts where no more than light frosts are experienced (My
guess would be no more than -2 to -3  degrees centigrade).

Propagation is easy..by seed, semihardwood or softwood cuttings".

The wood is exceptionally light when dry it is only half the weight of
an equivalent piece of cork and is used by the Maori for fishing floats.

Moira

-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index