Re: Putaputaweta (Carpodetus serratus)

At 08:04 PM 11/16/99 +1300, you wrote:
>There is a very popular song beloved by parents of pre-school children that
>begins "There's a putaputaweta in the bush." You get the children to sing
>along with you when you take them on long bush walks, so they don't realise
>how far they are walking!!!  <snip>

Hi Tim -

I was curious to know more about Carpodetus serratus also.  There is a
very small amount of information on the internet, but not much about
general culture, growth, etc.  I'm curious to know more about its form
and branching.  What is the overall appearance of the tree?  How old
are the trees when the stop having marbled leaves, or are the young
leaves always marbled?

>If so, and Richard has no luck getting seed from
>Otari, I can send some.

I am finding no source of seed - perhaps I'll take you up on your offer
as well.

>I can vouch for the very noticeable marbling on the
>young plant leaves.

(for those unfamiliar, here is an example of the marbled leaves:
http://www.sbs.auckland.ac.nz/rg/plantsci/carpodetus_serratus.html;
it would appear to be a means of protecting young growth from
being eaten - extra anthocyanins)

>My trees have never flowered before, and are only a few years old (perhaps
>5 or 6). They seem to grow faster than most other New Zealand native trees
>that I have growing here, and indeed have quickly outgrown imported species
>such as Liquidambar styraciflua which does not seem very happy with the
>soil conditions here and has struggled for 7 years so far.

What are the soil conditions that these young trees seem to be thriving
under?  I note some information that this species is appropriate for
a well-drained stream-side site.  It is also adaptable to drought?



Sean A. O'Hara                       sean.ohara@groupmail.com
h o r t u l u s   a p t u s          710 Jean Street
'a garden suited to its purpose'     Oakland, CA 94610-1459, U.S.A.
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