RE: Schinus molle
- Subject: RE: Schinus molle
- From: C* J*
- Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 09:00:43 -0700
Ryan - I was interested to find while searching google that although the
pepper tree is an invasive pest in Florida and Hawaii, an article titled The
Overstory #61, Effects of Trees on Soils, by Dr. Anthony Young, recommends
the tree as a soil builder to reclaim marginal lands in Africa - litter and
drought tolerance put to good use.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ryan Gyurkovitz [r*@verizon.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 8:02 PM
To: Medit newsgroup
Subject: Re: Schinus molle
Hi Carol, I took the opportunity earlier when collecting seeds from under a
pepper tree (If a plant from a one gallon pot has greater potential than one
from a five gallon pot, how about a seedling?) to measure the thickness of
the
litter, the only place I have seen duff that thick before was the floor of
an
old growth evergreen forest. It'll be tough finding plants that will live
under
such conditions, but I saw a pyracantha growing (unirrigated) under a pepper
tree only today, so there is hope. Hopefully I can find something lower
growing
to use as bulb cover.
Ryan Gyurkovitz
34.5N Coastal California (Oxnard Plain)
P.S. I am often unimpressed with the advice received by nurserymen and
regularly
ignore the advice of all but a select few.
Carol Joynson wrote:
> When I mentioned to a nursery man that I was putting my vegetables near a
> pepper tree I was warned about using the leaves as mulch. But, like
> yourself, I haven't found any other references, except to contact
dermititis
> in humans... The parts of the garden that get the litter seem to thrive,
> particularly tomatoes (the herbalists mention anti-fungal, anti-bacterial
> qualities for the Shinus). However, under the tree itself, the shade is
> very dense, the litter is very deep, and I make sure not to water because
> the pepper tree is susceptible to root rot (clay soil). They are
considered
> an invasive weed in Florida, and one of their listed flaws is shading out
> the competition. In the year since I cleared the ground under the tree, an
> inch to two inches of stuff has already accumulated: leaves, little
> blossoms, unidentified detritus. The tree drips, drops and litters
> constantly. My partner can count the amount of time I spent "gardening"
in
> the chair under the tree by the amount of trash in my hair, and uncovering
> the plants near the edges of the canopy is a regular chore. But it is cool
> and lovely in high summer.
>
> Carol
> L.A., two ridges north of the river.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ryan Gyurkovitz [r*@verizon.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 9:46 AM
> To: Medit newsgroup
> Subject: Schinus molle
>
> I have noticed that pepper trees (naturalized) don't seem to have any
> understory growth beneath them apart from a few suckers or seedlings. Is
> this because of allelopathy or merely the dense shade, heavy litter and
> dry conditions? I have been checking my various reference books as well
> as the internet and have been unable to locate any specific information.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Ryan Gyurkovitz
> 34.5N Coastal California (Oxnard Plain)
