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Callistemon citrinus - `little john'

Hi all,

A while back, I posted a question about the possible identity of a plant
I had observed in planters in Hawaii.  Three list members responded with
comments, ideas and suggestions.  Thanks, John, Samantha and Michael
(aka the wizard).

Yesterday, I recieved an email from Gerry Carr, Botany Professor at UH,
who, at my request was kind enough to contact the supplier of the plants
(Diamond Head Plant Rental) to the Shopping Center where I had observed
them.  They told him, and I quote, "The plant is Callistemon citrinus
`littlejohn'.  They grow slowly and we have not seen one more than 5 ft
tall.  They start flowering conservatively at first, but after the first
year of flowering begin to put on quite a show." 

BTW - if you haven't come across them already, Professor Carr has a
couple of pretty neat pages with plant photos, that are worth a look. 
You can check them out at:

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/pfamilies.htm
and
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/carr/160webindex.htm

I guess I should probably add at this point that another botanist
aquaintance in Hawaii opinioned that Diamond Head is not a grower, but
rather serves a middle-man function and thus, may not really know
exactly what it is they're providing to clients.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I still have 3 dozen seedlings growing -
pretty slowly seems to me, but a few have the first set of true leaves,
so I guess that's progress.   I may have some answers (but perhaps more
questions), later.  If I decide to vacation (holiday to you Brits and
Aussies) in Hawaii again next year, I may ask the facilities manager if
I might take a small cutting of one of the plants (If they're  still
there, that is).

One final question, this directed to the wizard.  What is it with the
cottonseed meal that you suggested?  Just curious.  We have lots of
cotton growers here, a little south of where I am at present, so
availability is no problem.  The only thing I came up with on an initial
web search was a somewhat technical discussion that warned that
cottonseed meal may cause a gossypol toxicity problem in cattle and
therefore should not be a major component in cattle feed.  Also, said it
was lower in nitrogen than some other seed meals.  Is that the
point?
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