Plant Descriptions – Gahnia aspera – Goodenia stelligera

Gahnia aspera

Classification:

Unranked: Monocots

Unranked: Commelinids

Order: Poales

Family: Cyperaceae

Genus: Is named in honour of Dr. Henry Gahn who was a Swedish botanist and friend of Karl Linnaeus.

Specie: From Asper, which is Ancient Greek for rough like a rasp. It refers to surfaces, which are rather rough.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Saw Grass or Saw Sedge.

Distribution:

Gahnia aspera is found south from the Torres Straight Islands and Cape York Peninsular in far north Queensland to near Eden in southern New South Wales. It is found on the Western Plains, Western Slopes, on and east of the Great Dividing Range where they follow most of the major inland rivers and streams. It is commonly found on the off shore islands.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gahnia+aspera#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gahnia aspera prefers full sun, dappled shade to quite dark situations. It grows on drier sites along riverine rainforests, riparian zones, moist Eucalyptus forests or dry Eucalyptus forests east of the Great Dividing Range and along rivers, streams and soaks and plains on the western side of the Great Dividing Range. It is also common on disturbed lands. The altitude ranges from sea level to 1200 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 4.degrees in July to 40 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 250mm to an average of 2900mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Gahnia aspera prefers better quality fertile sandy loams, light clay loams, medium clays or light silts to heavy silts. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalts, black basalts, sandstones, granites, shales or alluvial flats. The soils pH ranges from 4pH to 6.5pH. It tolerates water logged soils for short periods and seasonal high water tables. It often grows in association with iron oxide bacteria. (See article on Fungus and Bacteria) Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 150mm to 1000mm by 750mm to 1000mm.

Characteristics:

Gahnia aspera is a tufted perennial grass. The culms measure 150mm to 650mm in height by 2mm to 4mm in diameter.

The linear erect to pendant leaves measure 600mm to 950mm in length by 3mm to 6mm in width. The sheaths are dark brown to reddish brown below and a shiny pink above while the ligule is narrow and papery. The bases are clasping while the apexes are narrow tapering. The concolourous laminas are deep grass-green. The laminas are flat and slightly decurve at the margins. The midvein is prominent on the lower lamina and is clearly visible on the upper lamina. The margins are finely serrated.

Inflorescences are erect, narrow spike with spikelets of dense clusters of small cream flowers. The spikes measure 150mm to 350mm in length with 5 to 10 nodes. Spikelets number 6 to 8 glumes with the 3 upper glumes being the shortest. The lower glumes have an aristate to acuminate apex while the upper 3 are obtuse. The 4.to 6 stamens are cream with cream anthers measuring 1mm to 1.3mm in length.

Gahnia aspera fruits are a terete or globose nut. The fruits are produced in clusters along the spike. They measure 5mm to 6mm in length by 3mm to 5mm in diameter. It is semi glossy and a reddish brown to an orange red colour. I have seen plants with white nuts in Nana Glen and near Lowana. The nuts are attached by long thin black flagella. Fruits are born most of the year in warmer zones and during the warmer months in the cooler zones.

Wildlife:

Gahnia aspera nuts are eaten by a number of birds and native mice but are passed through the birds and mice without being digested due to the very hard testa.

The leaves are eaten by the Saw Edge Skipper larvae, Hesperilla idothea.

Cultivation:

Gahnia aspera is an excitingly different plant to grow in small or large gardens. The nuts are particularly attractive despite the leaves giving some nasty cuts. Plant them away from paths and heavy traffic areas to minimize the risk of being cut. Plants are best rejuvenated with fire, as all the other methods have the risk of being cut. Plants recover very quickly and usually flower soon after.

It makes excellent rockery plants placed near the center or along long walls where they can be placed near the rear. Try planting small ground covers or annuals in the fore ground to add height and length to the bed. It always look green and fresh especially where adequate ground moisture is retained whether it is grown in light shade or full sun. It is very suitable on sandy or heavy clay soils. In fact I have found areas where they have been growing on heavy clays to be far more friable after these plants have been growing there for a few years. It is most suitable for small, medium and large gardens close to the coast in temperate, sub-tropical, tropical or semi-arid gardens. As garden subjects it grows from 600m to 900mm by 600mm to 700mm in diameter when grown in the open. It is cold tolerant to temperatures at least as low as minus 3 degrees once established.

Propagation:

Seeds: Seeds are very difficult to germinate and even when germination is good is highly erratic. The best results I have seen come with weathered seeds that are at least 12 months old. Even fresh seeds that have been found in bird and animal faeces have not germinated much better. First treat the old seeds by placing them in a calico bag with some sharp sand and place them in the weekly washing. I have to admit that I have not attempted to freeze scarify seeds and this may be another option worth trying to break the seeds resistance to germination. Scarifying relies on the seeds being frozen or chilled for several weeks prior to sowing.

Sow the treated seeds of Gahnia aspera seeds into a seed raising mix. When the seedlings are 30mm to 50mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 200mm to 250mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Mass plantings would need the seedlings to be planted at 1.2 meters to 1.5 meters centers.

Fertilize using seaweed, fish emulsion or organic chicken pellets soaked in water on an alternate basis. Fertilize every two months until the plants are established then twice annually in early September or March to maintain health, vitality and better flowering.

Further Comments from Readers:

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Gahnia clarkei

Classification:

Unranked: Monocots

Unranked: Commelinids

Order: Poales

Family: Cyperaceae

Genus: Is named in honour of Dr. Henry Gahn who was a Swedish botanist and friend of Karl Linnaeus.

Specie: Is named in honour of Charles Baron Clarke; 1832–1906, who was a British botanist who specialized in the Cyperaceae Family.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Giant Saw Sedge.

Distribution:

Gahnia clarkei is found south from Fraser Island in southern coastal Queensland to Orbost in Victoria and west to the Narracoorte Coastal Plains in south eastern South Australia. There are 2 outlying populations in far north Queensland near Ingham and south of Cairns.

It is mainly found on and east of the Great Dividing Range.

It is found on Flinders Island in Bass Straight and the south eastern corner of Tasmania.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gahnia+clarkei#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gahnia clarkei prefers full sun or dappled shade. It grows along riverine rain forests, adjacent to Melaleuca swamps, in wallums and in natural depressions. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 300 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from 0 degrees in July to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 500mm to an average of 2700mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Gahnia clarkei prefers better quality, fertile fine sands, and sandy loams, to light fatty clay loams. The soils are usually derived from decomposed sandstones or accumulated peaty beach sands. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 6.5pH. It tolerates water logged soils for short periods and seasonal high water tables. It often grows in association with iron oxide bacteria. (See article on Fungus and Bacteria) Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 1500mm to 2250mm by 650mm to 1200mm.

Characteristics:

Gahnia clarkei grows as a tall tufted perennial. The culms are erect and measure 800mm to 2000mm in height by 3mm to 8mm in diameter.

The linear leaves are erect to pendant and measure 600mm to 1900mm in length by 3mm to 7mm in width. The sheaths are dark brown to reddish brown below and a shiny pink above while the ligule is narrow and papery. The bases are clasping while the apexes are narrow tapering. The concolourous laminas are deep grass-green. The laminas are flat and slightly decurve at the margins. The midvein is prominent on the lower lamina and is clearly visible on the upper lamina. The margins are finely serrated.

The inflorescences are erect, long, narrow spikes with spikelets of dense clusters of small cream flowers. The spikes measure 500mm to 1300mm in length with 10 to 14.nodes. Glumes number 12 to 17 with the lower glumes being shorter than the upper ones. The lower glumes apexes are mucronate or split apically while the upper glumes are obtuse. It is dark brown to black. The 3 to 6 stamens are cream with the cream anthers and measure 1.5mm to 2mm in length.

Gahnia clarkei’s fruits are an ovoid or ellipsoidal nut. The nuts are produced in clusters along the spike at the nodes. They measure 2.5mm to 3mm in length by 1.5mm to 1.8mm in diameter. It is glabrous, glossy, red to orange and reticulated. The nuts are attached by long thin black flagella. Fruits are born most of the year in warmer zones and during the warmer months in the cooler zones.

Confusing Species Varieties:

Gahnia clarkei grows in wet swampy locations. It is heavier and bulkier. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy red seeds are obscurely trigonous.

Gahnia melanocarpa grows in damp locations on better soils within moist forests and rainforests. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy brown to black seeds are more evidently trigonous.

Gahnia sieberiana grows in damp and drier locations on slopes locations on sandy or fine silty soils. It is lighter and finer built. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy orange to orange-red seeds are more evidently trigonous.

Gahnia subaequiglumis grows in damp to wet locations on better soils within moist forests and rainforests around swamps. The flowers do not extend beyond the leaves. The glossy red seeds are trigonous.

Wildlife:

Gahnia clarkei nuts are eaten by a number of birds but are passed through the birds without being digested.

The leaves are a favourite food source of the Saw Edge Skipper larvae, Hesperilla idothea.

Cultivation:

Gahnia clarkei make excellent rockery plants placed near the center or along long walls where they can be placed near the rear. Try planting small ground covers or annuals in the fore ground to add height and length to the bed. They always look green and fresh especially where adequate ground moisture is retained whether it is grown in light shade or full sun.

It is very suitable on sandy to heavy clay soils. In fact I have found areas where they have been growing on heavy clays to be far more friable after these plants have been growing there for a few years. It is most suitable for small, medium and large gardens close to the coast in temperate, sub-tropical, tropical or semi-arid gardens. As garden subjects they will grow from 1600m to 2500mm by 600mm to 900mm in diameter when grown in the open. It is cold tolerant to temperatures at least as low as minus 3 degrees once established.

Propagation:

Sow the treated seeds of Gahnia clarkei seeds into a seed raising mix. When the seedlings are 30mm to 50mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 200mm to 250mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Mass plantings would need the seedlings to be planted at 1.2 meters to 1.5 meters centers.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gahnia melanocarpa

Classification:

Unranked: Monocots

Unranked: Commelinids

Order: Poales

Family: Cyperaceae

Genus: Is named in honour of Dr. Henry Gahn who was a Swedish botanist and friend of Karl Linnaeus.

Specie: From Mélas, which is Ancient Greek for black and Karpós, which is Ancient Greek for a fruit. It refers to fruits, which are black.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Black fruit Saw Sedge.

Distribution:

Gahnia melanocarpa is found south from Gympie in southern central Queensland to the Strzelecki Ranges in eastern coastal Victoria. It is mainly found on and east of the Great Dividing Range to the coast.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gahnia+melanocarpa#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gahnia melanocarpa prefers full sun or dappled shade. It grows along riparian zones and drainage lines in well-developed rainforests, littoral rainforests, in Melaleuca swamps, wallum heaths or in natural shallow depressions. The altitude ranges from 3 meters ASL to 1200 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 3 degrees in July to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 600mm to an average of 2000mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Gahnia melanocarpa prefers better quality fertile sandy loams, to medium clay loams or light silts to heavy silts. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalt, black basalt, sandstones, granites, shales or accumulated peaty beach sands. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 6.5pH are preferred. It tolerates water logged soils for short periods and seasonal high water tables. It often grows in association with iron oxide bacteria. (See article on Fungus and Bacteria) Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 800mm to 1250mm by 650mm to 1200mm.

Characteristics:

Gahnia melanocarpa grow as a tall, erect, tufted perennial which grows in large dense clumps. The culms measure 800mm to 1200mm in height by 4mm to 5mm in diameter.

The linear, semi erect to pendulant leaves of Gahnia melanocarpa measure 400mm to 650mm in length by 4mm to 6mm in width. The sheaths are pale, dull pink to pale brown on both surfaces while the ligule is narrow and chartacea. The bases are clasping while the apexes are narrow tapering. The concolourous laminas are deep grass-green and glabrous to finely scabrous. The laminas recurve slightly from the mid vein to the margins while the margins are finely serrated. The midvein is prominent on the lower lamina and is clearly visible on the upper lamina.

Inflorescences of Gahnia melanocarpa are long, narrow, and erect to ascending. There are 7 to 9 nodes with secondary branches. The inflorescences measure 300mm to 450mm in length by 30mm to 40mm in diameter at the spikes. The spikes contain 5 to 20 spikelets and measure 30mm to 120mm in length by 12mm to 18mm in diameter

The spikelets contain a single flower.

The 4.or 5 upper and lower glumes are dissimilar. The reddish-brown glumes are glabrous and measure 2.5mm to 3mm. The lower glumes apexes are long mucronate while the 2 upper glumes are much shorter and broader with acute to mucronate upper margin.

There is 3 or 4.filiform, white filaments measure 2mm to 2.5mm in length while the pale yellow anthers measure 0.7mm to 1.1mm in length excluding the apical appendage which measures 0.2mm to 0.3mm in length. The white style is trifid. The flowers appear from October to January.

Gahnia melanocarpa’s fruits are obovoidal to obscurely trigonous nuts. The nuts measure 2.2mm to 2.5mm in length by 1.5mm to 2mm in diameter. The green nuts turn glossy black with fine reticulated or granulated markings when ripe. The fruits ripen from February to March and hang by long filiform thread for months after ripening.

Confusing Species Varieties:

Gahnia melanocarpa grows in damp locations on better soils within moist forests and rainforests. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy brown to black seeds are more evidently trigonous.

Gahnia clarkei grows in wet swampy locations. It is heavier and bulkier. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy red seeds are obscurely trigonous.

Wildlife:

Gahnia melanocarpa nuts are eaten by a number of birds but are passed through the birds without being digested.

The leaves are a favourite food source of the Saw Edge Skipper larvae, Hesperilla idothea.

Cultivation:

Gahnia melanocarpa make excellent plants placed along dry riverine gullies or along long walls where they can be placed at the rear. Try planting small ground covers or annuals in the fore ground to add height and length to the bed. It always look green and fresh especially where adequate ground moisture is retained whether it is grown in medium shade or full sun.

It is very suitable on sandy or heavy clay soils. In fact I have found areas where they have been growing on heavy clays to be far more friable after these plants have been growing there for a few years. It is most suitable for small, medium and large gardens close to the coast in temperate, sub-tropical, tropical or semi-arid gardens. As a garden subject it will grow from 900m to 1200mm by 800mm to 900mm in diameter when grown in the open. It is cold tolerant to temperatures at least as low as minus 3 degrees once established.

Propagation:

Seeds: Seeds are very difficult to germinate and even when germination is good is highly erratic. The best results I have seen come with weathered seeds that are at least 12 months old. Even fresh seeds that have been found in bird and animal faeces have not germinated much better. First treat the old seeds by placing them in a calico bag with some sharp sand and place them in the weekly washing. I have to admit that I have not attempted to scarify seeds in the refrigerator and this may be another option worth trying to break the seeds resistance to germination. Scarifying relies on the seeds being chilled for several weeks prior to sowing.

Sow the treated seeds of Gahnia melanocarpa seeds into a seed raising mix. When the seedlings are 30mm to 50mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 100mm to 150mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Mass plantings are best achieved by planting them at 1.2 meters to 1.5 meters centers.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gahnia sieberiana

Classification:

Unranked: Monocots

Unranked: Commelinids

Order: Poales

Family: Cyperaceae

Genus: Is named in honour of Dr. Henry Gahn who was a Swedish botanist and friend of Karl Linnaeus.

Specie: Is named in honour of Franz Wilhelm Sieber; 1789-1844, who was a Prague botanist who travelled around the world collecting plants, which included venturing to New South Wales in 1823.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Red Fruit Saw Sedge.

Distribution:

Gahnia sieberiana is found south from the tip of Cape York Peninsular in far north Queensland to Wallaby Creek Floral Reserve in northern Victoria. From Wallaby Creek Floral Reserve it is found in a westerly direction to Nelson in the south western corner of Victoria. It is mainly found on and east of the Great Dividing Range.

In South Australia it is found near Port Augusta and south from the Lofty Ranges to the western tip of Kangaroo Island.

In Tasmania it is found along the northern coastal strip to as far south as Launceston. It is also found on Flinders Island in Bass Straight.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gahnia+sieberiana#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gahnia sieberiana prefers full sun or dappled shade. It grows in drainage lines, moist situations and shallow depressions on drier hillsides in open woodlands or moist open Eucalyptus forests often verging on rainforests. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 1400 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 5 degrees in July to 39 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 800mm to an average of 2700mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Gahnia sieberiana prefers better quality fertile sandy loams, to light gritty clay loams or alluvial silts trapped in depressions or along creeks and in riparian zones. The soils are usually derived from decomposed basalts, sandstones, granites shales metamorphic rocks or alluvial deposits. The soils pH ranges from 4pH to 6.5pH are preferred. It tolerates water logged soils for short periods and seasonal high water tables. It often grows in association with iron oxide bacteria. (See article on Fungus and Bacteria) Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 1200mm to 2000mm by 650mm to 1200mm.

Characteristics:

Gahnia sieberiana grows as a tall, erect tufted perennial which grows in large dense clumps. The culms measure 1000mm to 2000mm in height by 5mm to 12mm in diameter.

The linear, semi erect or pendulant leaves of Gahnia sieberiana measure 1000mm to 2000mm in length by 5.5mm to 8mm in width. The sheaths are deep brown to black and dull on both surfaces while the ligule is narrow and chartacea. The bases are clasping while the apexes are narrow tapering. The discolourous laminas are deep grass-green and finely scabrous on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are paler. The laminas decurve slightly from near the edge to the margins while the margins are finely serrated and scabrous. The midvein is strongly prominent on the lower lamina and is clearly visible on the upper lamina.

The inflorescences of Gahnia sieberiana are long, narrow and erect. There are 12 to 30 nodes with secondary branching spikes. The inflorescences measure 300mm to 1000mm in length by 30mm to 90mm in diameter at the spikes. The spikes contain 10 to 60 spikelets and measure 30mm to 160mm in length by 12mm to 60mm in diameter.

The spikelets contain 2 flowers.

The 5 to 8 upper and lower glumes are dissimilar. The reddish-brown to deep chocolate-brown almost black glumes are glabrous to scabrous and measure 3.5mm to 5mm by 1.5mm to 2mm in width. The lower glumes apexes are acute with a long mucronate tip while the upper glumes are much shorter and broader.

There are 3 or 4, white filaments measure 0.4mm to 0.6mm in length while the pale yellow anthers measure 2.3mm to 3mm in length excluding the apical appendage which measures 0.3mm to 0.5mm in length. The white style is trifid. We have observed the flowers during October to January and April to May.

Gahnia sieberiana’s fruits are ellipsoidal to obscurely trigonous or with 4.roughly angled nuts. The nuts measure 2.5mm to 4mm in length by 1.5mm to 2mm in diameter. The green nuts turn glossy orange-red to red and smooth and finely reticulate or finely granulated when ripe. The fruits ripen from February to March and hang by long filiform thread for months after ripening.

Confusing Species Varieties

Gahnia clarkei grows in wet swampy locations. It is heavier and bulkier. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy red seeds are obscurely trigonous.

Gahnia melanocarpa grows in damp locations on better soils within moist forests and rainforests. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy brown to black seeds are more evidently trigonous.

Wildlife:

Gahnia sieberiana nuts are eaten by a number of birds but are passed through the birds without being digested.

The leaves are a favourite food source of the Saw Edge Skipper larvae, Hesperilla idothea.

Cultivation:

Gahnia sieberiana make excellent plants placed along dry riverine gullies or along long walls where they can be placed at the rear. Try planting small ground covers or annuals in the fore ground to add height and length to the bed. It always looks green and fresh especially where adequate ground moisture is retained whether it is grown in medium shade or full sun.

It is very suitable on sandy or heavy clay soils. In fact I have found areas where they have been growing on heavy clays and shales to be far more friable after these plants have been growing there for a few years. It is most suitable for small, medium and large gardens close to the coast in temperate, sub-tropical, tropical or semi-arid gardens. As garden subjects they will grow from 900m to 1800mm by 800mm to 1000mm in diameter when grown in the open. It is cold tolerant to temperatures at least as low as minus 5 degrees once established.

Propagation:

Seeds: Seeds are very difficult to germinate and even when germination is good is highly erratic. The best results I have seen come with weathered seeds that are at least 12 months old. Even fresh seeds that have been found in bird and animal faeces have not germinated much better. First treat the old seeds by placing them in a calico bag with some sharp sand and place them in the weekly washing. I have to admit that I have not attempted to scarify seeds in the refrigerator and this may be another option worth trying to break the seeds resistance to germination. Scarifying relies on the seeds being chilled for several weeks prior to sowing.

Sow the treated seeds of Gahnia melanocarpa seeds into a seed raising mix. When the seedlings are 30mm to 50mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 100mm to 150mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Mass plantings are best achieved by planting them at 1.2 meters to 1.5 meters centers.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gahnia subaequiglumis

Classification:

Unranked: Monocots

Unranked: Commelinids

Order: Poales

Family: Cyperaceae

Genus: Is named in honour of Dr. Henry Gahn who was a Swedish botanist and friend of Karl Linnaeus.

Specie: From Sub, which is Ancient Greek/Latin for below or lower, Aequalis, which is Latin for equal to and Glumis which is Latin for a husk or chaff. It refers to glumes, which are not quite equal in length shape or form.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Bog Saw Grass.

Distribution:

Gahnia subaequiglumis is found south from Mount Barney in far south eastern Queensland to Orbost in north eastern Victoria. It is mainly found on the Western Slopes, on and east of the Great Dividing Range to the coast. It is also found in Carnarvon Gorge National Park.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gahnia+subaequiglumis#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gahnia subaequiglumis prefer full sun or medium shade. It grows along riverine rain forests, in swamps, coastal wallums and in the adjacent drier sections of coastal heaths and in natural depressions in open woodlands, sclerophyll forests or open Eucalyptus forests. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 1600 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 3 degrees in July to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 450mm to an average of 1600mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Gahnia subaequiglumis prefers better quality fertile sandy loams, to light clay loams and alluvial flats. The soils are usually derived from decomposed basalts, sandstones, granites or shales or accumulated peaty beach sands. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 6pH are preferred. It tolerates water logged soils for short periods and seasonal high water tables. It grows in association with iron oxide bacteria. (See article on Fungus and Bacteria) Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 300mm to 600mm by 500mm to 1000mm.

Characteristics:

Gahnia subaequiglumis grows as a tall, erect tufted perennial which grows in medium dense clumps. The culms measure 300mm to 600mm in height by 3mm to 5mm in diameter.

The basal linear leaves of Gahnia subaequiglumis are erect, semi erect to spreading and arching. They measure 450mm to 750mm in length by 4mm to 6mm in width. The sheaths are pale brown on both surfaces while the ligule is narrow and chartacea. The bases are clasping while the apexes are narrow tapering. The discolourous laminas are deep grass-green and glabrous to finely scabrous on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are paler. The laminas decurve slightly from the mid vein to the margins while the margins are finely serrated. The midvein is prominent on the lower lamina and is faintly visible on the upper lamina.

Inflorescences of Gahnia subaequiglumis are long, narrow and erect. There are 7 to 9 nodes with secondary branches. The inflorescences measure 200mm to 650mm in length by 30mm to 40mm in diameter at the spikes. The culms have 10 to 12 nodes where the spikes are numerous and measure 20mm to 30mm in length by 4mm to 6mm in diameter

The spikelets contain a single flower.

The 6 or 7 upper and lower glumes are dissimilar. The deep brown to black glumes are slightly scabrous and measure 2.5mm to 3mm. The lower glumes apexes are mucronate while the upper glumes are much shorter and broader with a shorter or longer mucronate apex.

There are 3 or 4.filiform filaments are white while the pale yellow anthers measure 1.7mm to 2.3mm in length excluding the apical appendage which measures about 0.2mm in length. The white style is trifid. The flowers appear from October to January.

Gahnia subaequiglumis fruits are narrow ellipsoid to ellipsoid, trigonous or rarely 4-angled nuts. The nuts measure 4mm to 4.5mm in length by 1.5mm to 2mm in diameter. The green nuts turn glossy red with fine reticulated markings when ripe. The fruits ripen from February to March and hang by long filiform thread for months after ripening.

Confusing Species Varieties:

Gahnia clarkei grows in wet swampy locations. It is heavier and bulkier. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy red seeds are obscurely trigonous.

Gahnia melanocarpa grows in damp locations on better soils within moist forests and rainforests. The flowers extend beyond the leaves. The glossy brown to black seeds are more evidently trigonous.

Wildlife:

Gahnia subaequiglumis nuts are eaten by a number of birds but are passed through the birds without being digested.

The leaves are a favourite food source of the Saw Edge Skipper larvae which causes minimal damage, Hesperilla idothea.

Cultivation:

Gahnia subaequiglumis make excellent plants placed along dry riverine gullies or along long walls where they can be placed at the rear. Try planting small ground covers or annuals in the fore ground to add height and length to the bed. It always looks green and fresh especially where adequate ground moisture is retained whether it is grown in medium shade or full sun.

It is very suitable on sandy or heavy clay soils. In fact I have found areas where they have been growing on heavy clays to be far more friable after these plants have been growing there for a few years. It is most suitable for small, medium and large gardens close to the coast in temperate, sub-tropical, tropical or semi-arid gardens. As garden subjects they will grow from 500m to 600mm by 700mm to 900mm in diameter when grown in the open. It is cold tolerant to temperatures at least as low as minus 3 degrees once established.

Propagation:

Seeds: Seeds are very difficult to germinate and even when germination is good is highly erratic. The best results I have seen come with weathered seeds that are at least 12 months old. Even fresh seeds that have been found in bird and animal faeces have not germinated much better. First treat the old seeds by placing them in a calico bag with some sharp sand and place them in the weekly washing. I have to admit that I have not attempted to scarify seeds in the refrigerator and this may be another option worth trying to break the seeds resistance to germination. Scarifying relies on the seeds being chilled for several weeks prior to sowing.

Sow the treated seeds of Gahnia melanocarpa seeds into a seed raising mix. When the seedlings are 30mm to 50mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 100mm to 150mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Mass plantings are best achieved by planting them at 1.2 meters to 1.5 meters centers.

Further Comments from Readers:

Galium leptogonium

Classification

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Asterids

Order: Gentinales

Family: Rubiaceae

Genus: From Galactos, which is Ancient Greek for milk. It refers to the foliage from Galium verum, which was used to curdle milk and is still used as a natural colouring to colour cheese.

Specie: From Leptós, which is Ancient Greek for delicate, fine or slender and Gonos, which is Ancient Greek or Gonium, which is Latin for an individual seed. It refers to plants, which produce a single, long, thin seed compared to other species in the genus.

Sub specie:

Common Name:

Distribution:

Galium leptogonium is found south along the coastal strip from the Swan basin in south western, Western Australia to Port Augusta where it spreads out to Innes National Park and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It is also found in southern central South Australia, south from Mount Wallaby along the Gawler Ranges.

In the east it is found south from Kenilworth in south eastern Queensland to Mount Gambier in far south eastern South Australia. It is mainly found on the Western Slopes, on and east of the Great Dividing Range to the coast. It is also found in Carnarvon National Park and Kroombit Tablelands west of Gladstone.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Galium+leptogonium#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Galium leptogonium prefers full sun to light dappled shade. It grows on moist sites along riparian zones, adjacent to swamps and coastal wallums and in the adjacent drier sections of coastal heaths and in natural depressions in moist open woodlands and moist open sclerophyll forests. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 1060 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 3 degrees in July to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 450mm to an average of 1600mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Galium leptogonium prefers better quality fertile sandy loams, to medium clays or medium silts to heavy silts. The soils are usually derived from decomposed basalts, sandstones or shales or alluvial deposits. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 6.5pH. It tolerates seasonal water logged soils Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 1m to 3m by 1m to 3m.

Characteristics:

Galium leptogonium grows as an annual herb with slender pale blue-green stems. The angulated stems are densely covered in short, white, and decurve, hispid hairs. The stems adhere to the stems, trunks, other herbs and yes fur and clothing by the decurve hairs on the stems.

The 4.variable, whirled leaves of Galium leptogonium are spathulate, elliptic, narrow elliptic, narrow obovate or narrow oblanceolate. The leaves measure 3mm to 15mm in length by 2mm to 6mm in width. The petioles measure 0mm to 0.5mm in length. The bases are cuneate while the apexes are acute often with a single white hispid hair. The concolourous laminas are pale blue-green and are moderately covered in white, decurve, hispid-antrorse hairs. The laminas are flat, recurve slightly upwards or decurve slightly downwards from the mid vein to the margins. The mid vein is prominent on the lower lamina is faintly visible from the upper lamina. The leaf margins are entire.

The inflorescences of Galium leptogonium are born with 2 to 10 individual flowers on a cyme, from the leaf axils. The cyme and pedicels are pale green-blue and are sparsely to moderately covered in white decurve hispid-antrorse hairs. The cymes measure 5mm to 16mm in length while the pedicels measure 3mm to 12mm in length and often bear 2 flowers on a single pedicel.

The 4.stipules are similar to the leaves and are born in a whorl below the inflorescences and measure 2mm to 10mm in length by 1.8mm to 3.5mm in width. The cupular calyxes are glabrous or rarely sparsely covered in short hirsute hairs and measure 0.4mm to 0.5mm in length by 0.9mm to 1.1mm in diameter. The pastel yellow, cream or white corolla and lobes are glabrous or rarely covered in white hirsute hairs. The corollas measure 0.5mm to 0.9mm in length while the lobes measure 1mm to 1.3mm in length.

The 4.pastel yellow slightly exserted filaments are adjacent to the petals and bear pastel yellow anthers. The stamens measure 0.4mm to 0.5mm in length while the pistil measures 0.6mm to 0.7mm in length. The pastel yellow style is exserted. The flowers appear from October to May.

Galium leptogonium fruits are usually ellipsoidal to sub globose or at times reniform mericarps. The mericarps measure 1mm to 1.2mm in length by 0.5mm to 0.7mm in diameter. The pale green-blue mericarps are sparsely covered in white antrorse–hispid hairs and turn pale grey-brown when ripe. The seeds are deep reddish-brown and are reticular rugose. The fruits ripen from May to February.

Wildlife:

Galium leptogonium’s wildlife is unknown to the author however I know from my experiences in an organic orchard the growth rate was extraordinary where fortnightly slashing would see the plants grow 2 or 3 meters flower and fruit on new stems in the 2 weeks. They gave copious quantities of soft high nitrogenous mulch which was eagerly sought out by our ducks.

Cultivation:

Galium leptogonium is considered a weed in the garden with its only virtue at this stage being good quality mulch. It is presently under investigation for anti-carcinogenic properties which may lead to a small niche market in the future.

Propagation:

Seeds: Sow fresh seeds or the previous season’s seeds after removing them from the refrigerator over winter for small quantities. Galium leptogonium seeds into a seed raising mix. Place the trays beneath 50{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth and keep moist. When the seedlings are 30mm to 50mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 200mm to 250mm in height plant them out into their permanent position adjacent to a tree with non-decorticating bark.

For larger areas or acerage collect the seed in Autumn and spread sparsely over the area which is intended to be cropped and water thoroughly assoon as the weather warms or the first spring rains are expected.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gallionella ferruginea

Classification:

Order:

Family:

Genus: From Gallion, which is unknown and Ella which is the female form or lady like.

Specie: From ferrūginea, which is Latin for of the colour of iron rust (ferric oxide), dark red, ferruginous or to have the taste of iron.

Sub specie:

Common Name:

Distribution:

Gallionella ferruginea is found throughout Australia.

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gallionella ferruginea prefers partial shade or filtered sunlight. It usually grows best in areas with slow moving water or where water prculates through to the surface. The altitude ranges from many meters below ASL to 2000 meters ASL in Australian waters.

The temperatures range from minus 6 degrees in July to 44 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 400mm to an average of 3200mm.

Soil Requirements:

Gallionella ferruginea prefer soils with high iron content and plenty of moisture. The soils pH ranges from 3.5pH to 4pH are preferred. It tolerates water logged soils. Non saline soils to very strong saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Characteristics:

As I have mentioned Gallionella ferruginea a lot throughout several articles I thought it best if we learnt a little about this unusual bacteria. It is an iron-oxidizing, chemolithotrophic bacteria that lives in low-oxygen water.

Gallionella ferruginea is also commonly known as iron bacteria.

The molecular and electrochemical properties of gallionella ferruginea allow this bacteria to:

Remove dissolved iron from bodies of water

Produce an insoluble precipitate of ferric hydroxide on the surface seen as a pale brown to yellow-brown sludge,

Gallionella ferruginea can be found in many different types of habitats, such as:

Freshwater mineral springs

Brackish waters

Marine shallow waters

Deep sea venting sites

For more information see Chapter on Bacteria, Fungus phytomediation.

Further Comments from Readers:

Garcinia warrenii

Classification:

Unranked: Rosids

Order: Malpighiales

Family: Clusiaceae

Subfamily: Clusioideae

Tribe: Garciniea

Genus: Is named after Dr. Laurent Garcin; 1683-1791, who was a French Botanist who discovered several new species notably from the Middle East.

Specie: Is named in honour of Warren but which Warren cannot be substantiated.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Native Mangsteen.

Distribution:

Garcinia warrenii is a found south from the tip of Cape York Peninsular to Merapah on the Western side of Cape York Peninsular then to the Johnson River near Innisfail in Queensland east of the Great Dividing Range.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Garcinia+warrenii#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Garcinia warrenii prefers dense shade, partial shade or filtered sunlight. It usually grows in well-developed rain forest, well developed littoral rainforests, moist gallery forests and protected riparian forests. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 650 meters ASL in Australia but I have seen it growing at 1500 meters ASL in southern Asia.

The temperatures range from 12 degrees in July to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 1800mm to an average of 3200mm.

Soil Requirements:

Garcinia warrenii prefers better quality light clays to medium clays. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalts, black basalts, granites or podsolics. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 6pH are preferred. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 12m to 18m by 9m to 12m.

Characteristics:

Garcinia warrenii grows as a small tree with a straight grey deep brown to deep grey-brown rough bole. The trunks and larger branches densely covered in mosses and lichens. The branchlets are glabrous and smooth while the branchlets are mid green, smooth and glabrous with scattered lenticels grey turning pale olive green near the apex. All parts of the plant exude clear yellow latex when damaged.

The coriaceous, opposite leaves of Garcinia warrenii’s are elliptical to broad elliptical. The leaves measure 80mm to 160mm in length and 35mm to 80mm in width. The glabrous petioles measure 8mm to 13mm in length. The slightly oblique bases are broad cuneate to rounded while the apexes are acuminate. The discolourous laminas are mid green to deep green, smooth and glabrous on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are paler. The laminas recurve slightly upwards from the mid vein to the margins while the margins are entire. The mid vein is prominent while the lateral veins are clearly visible on the lower lamina and mid vein is distinctly visible on the upper lamina. The new growth is pale green to lime-green, smooth and glossy.

The dioecious inflorescences of Garcinia warrenii are born either singularly or in pairs; as in the female flowers or in small panicles in the case of the male flowers, from the center where a branch will occur.

The short, stout peduncles on the male flowers measure 10mm to 12mm in length. The 4.orbicular sepals when present measure 6mm to 8mm in diameter. The 4, orbicular, strongly saccate, creamy yellow to creamy pastel pink petals measure 7mm to 9mm in diameter. The mounded disk is absent in the male flowers. The 4.stamens are grouped into four stout phalanges. The burgundy anthers measure 1.5mm to 2mm in diameter and have cream pollen.

The short, stout peduncles on the female flowers measure 3mm to 4mm in length. The 4.orbicular sepals measure 8mm to 10mm in diameter. The 4, broadly spathulate, strongly saccate, creamy yellow to creamy pastel pink petals measure 10mm to 12mm in diameter. The mounded disk is creamy yellow to creamy pastel pink, strongly perfumed with a dash of cloves in the female flowers. The flowers appear from October to January.

Garcinia warrenii fruits are depressed globular berries. The berries measure 40mm to 50mm in length by 50mm to 60mm in diameter. The green berries turn deep purple externally and reddish-maroon internally when ripe.

The 4.sepal lobes are persistent at the base while the stigma is persistent at the apex. The ripe fruits appear from January to June.

The 8, flattenned slight reniform seeds are surrounded by a white succulent pulp. Usually only one of the seeds is viable. The seeds measure 30mm to 33mm in length by 20mm to 30mm.

Wildlife:

The flowers Garcinia warrenii are attractive to several different species of butterflies while the fruit is eaten by the cassowary, Casuarius casuarius.

Cultivation:

Garcinia warrenii is a beautiful small growing tree for use in the rainforest garden that is on very wet terrain. It is suitable for small to large gardens parks and street planting. The large leaves give the rainforest affect at an early age.

It is relatively fast growing with a dense canopy. In cultivation the trees will grow to from 8 meters to 12 meters by 6 meters to 9 meters in diameter when grown in the open. It makes an excellent specimen trees or starter in a rainforest as they have an attractive bark which will soon become covered in lichens. The upper branches are also excellent for epiphytic ferns and orchids.

Garcinia warrenii are at their best when grown on rich organic, fertile, well drained, acid soils. The trees will need additional moisture added throughout the year if grown in areas that have less than the ideal rainfall. Even in brief periods of drought or drying out will stress the trees which will lead to many flowers being aborted. It is not suitable for areas that suffer temperatures lower than 4.degrees even for short periods

Trees should be fertilized every 3-4.months during the first 3 years of growth, and thereafter once or twice a year. Mulching is highly recommended to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil which the trees are highly dependent upon for trace nutrients, to conserve moisture and control weeds. Well nurtured orchard trees have been known to produce fruit in the fifth year however 6 to 8 years from seed is the norm. Young trees starting production will produce 100 to 200 fruits per year, while well maintained mature trees; at 12 years of age, will produce over 1000 fruits a year.

It is sensitive to high levels of fertilizer, and must be fertilized with a dilute fertilizer solution similar to our recommended organic fertilizing programmed on a regular basis.

Nutritional Composition per 100 g of Mangosteen Fruit.

Carbohydrate 6 to 20g

Fat 0.1 to 1g

Protein 0.6g

Calcium 7 to 11g

Phosphorous 4 to 17g

Potassium 19mg

Iron 0.2 to 1mg

Vitamin A 14IU

Vitamin B1 0.03mg

Vitamin B2 0.03mg

Niacin 0.3mg

Vitamin C 12 to 66mg

Chinese Department of Primary Industries.

Propagation:

Seeds: Garcinia warrenii are usually propagated by seed. Seed production is the best method for production as the seeds are apomictic growing true to form.

The seeds lose viability quickly therefore are best planted as it is harvested. Germination usually occurs in 2 to 3 weeks. Sow fresh Garcinia warrenii’s seeds directly into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix. When the seedlings are 100mm to 150mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 200mm or 250mm native bags using a very good organic mix.

The seedlings are rather slow to establish themselves. Place them beneath 50{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} to 75{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth until 6 months prior to being planted out into their permanent positions. At this stage they should be hardened off over several months to full sun unless shade cloth is being supplied over the orchard.

Once the seedlings reach 300mm to 400mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Orchard plantings need to be planted at 10 meter by 10 meter rows.

Mangsteen can be successfully grafted onto rootstocks of Garcinia enclose, Garcinia xanthochymus or Garcinia hombroniana using any of the grafting techniques listed under propagation.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gardenia scabrella

Classification:

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Asterids

Order: Gentianales

Family: Rubiaceae

Genus: Is named in honour of Alexander Garden; 1730–1791, who was a Scottish physician, botanist and zoologist.

Specie: From Scaber, which is Latin for rough or scabrous. It refers to an organ or structure which is rather rough to the touch.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Native Gardenia.

Distribution:

Gardenia scabrella is a found in the central zones of tip of Cape York Peninsular. There are several disjunct populations recorded at Statton River, Babinda, Topaz and Mount Surprise in far north east Queensland.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gardenia+scabrella#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gardenia scabrella prefers dense shade, partial shade or filtered sunlight. It usually grows in well-developed rain forest, well developed littoral rainforests, moist gallery forests and protected riparian forests. The altitude ranges from 2 meters ASL to 120 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from 12 degrees in July to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 1700mm to an average of 2200mm.

Soil Requirements:

Gardenia scabrella prefers better quality sandy loams, light clays to gritty medium clays. The soils are usually derived from decomposed sandstones, accumulated sands or alluvial deposits. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 6pH are preferred. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 4m to 8m by 3m to 5m.

Characteristics:

Gardenia scabrella grows as a small tree with a straight pale fawn to pale grey-brown rough trunk and branches. The pale green juvenile shoots are often sticky or varnished. The trunks and larger branches densely covered in mosses and lichens.

The pale green, lanceolate stipules measure 4mm to 6mm in length and completely encircling the twigs. The juvenile stipules are often sticky or varnished.

Mature elliptical leaves measure 45mm to 125mm in length by 14mm to 46mm in width. The discolourous leaves are deep green and semi glossy on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are paler. The bases are cuneate, while the apexes are broad acute with a small accuminate tip. The mid vein is strongly prominent on the lower lamina and is sparsly covered in short white hairs on the upper lamina particularly along the midrib. The lateral veins are alternate on each side of the mid vein and are set at around 70 degrees. The domatia are foveoles with hairs at the orifice.

The long narrow acute calyx lobes measure 6mm to 12mm in length. The 6 white or cream, narrow elliptical corolla lobes measure 28mm to 40mm in length by 10mm to 16mm in width. The cylindrical corolla tube measures 5mm to 8mm in length. The 6 anthers are inserted while the pale yellow-green style and yellow stigma is level with the mouth of the corolla tube. Flowers appear throughout the year in warmer climates or in the warmer months in cooler climates.

The elongate to ellipsoid fruits are hexagonal in transverse section and measure 30mm to 65mm in length by 12mm to 18mm in diameter. The fruits are longitudinally ribbed.

The flat, cuboidal, sherical or elliptical-triangular, pale brown seeds measure 2.5mm to 3mm tin length by 1.8mm to 2mm in width, while the embryo measures 1.3mm in length.

Wildlife:

The flowers Gardenia scabrella are attractive to several different species of small black beatles.

Cultivation:

Gardenia scabrella is a beautiful small growing bushy tree, which is suitable for growing in the rainforest garden where reasonable moisture levels are retained throughout the year. It is suitable for small to large gardens, parks and street planting. The large leaves give the rainforest affect at an early age.

It is relatively fast growing once established with a dense canopy. In cultivation the trees will grow to from 6 meters to 8 meters by 4 meters to 6 meters in diameter when grown in the open. It makes an excellent specimen tree or starter in a rainforest as it has an attractive bark which will soon become covered in lichens. The upper branches are also excellent for small epiphytic ferns and orchids.

Gardenia scabrella are at their best when grown on rich organic, fertile, well drained, acid soils. The trees will need additional moisture added in the drier months of the year if grown in areas that have less than the ideal rainfall. Even in brief periods of drought or drying out will stress the trees which will lead to many flowers and leaves being aborted. It is not suitable for areas that suffer temperatures lower than 4 degrees even for short periods.

Trees should be fertilized every 3 to 4 months during the first 3 years of growth, and thereafter annually. Mulching is highly recommended to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil which the trees are highly dependent upon for trace nutrients, to conserve moisture and control weeds.

It is sensitive to high levels of fertilizer, and must be fertilized with a dilute fertilizer solution similar to our recommended organic fertilizing programmed on a regular basis.

Plants are susceptable to black scale where synthetic fertilizers are used to promote soft, fast growth. Capnodium oleaginum, or Fumago salicina are the most common sooty moulds. Spores from these moulds develop on sweet honeydew produced by parasitic mites so these need to be locate as it is the root cause of the problem. The pink scale, white scale or aphids are the most common ones found in the garden.

Plant diversity in your garden, is the best method of protection as it assists in the natural build up of their predators. The use of snthetic sprays kills not only the cause of the problem but ahnilates the predators which take longer to recover.

Spray the areas where it is with neem oil,

or mix one tablespoon of vegetable oil, one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and one teaspoon of metholated spirits to one litre of water.

Propagation:

Seeds: Gardenia scabrella are usually propagated by seed. Seed production is the best method for.

The seeds lose viability rather quickly therefore are best planted as it is harvested. Germination usually occurs in 2 to 3 weeks. Sow the fresh seeds of Gardenia scabrella directly into deep seed trays using a good organic mix. When the seedlings are 40mm to 50mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a very good organic mix.

The seedlings are rather slow to establish themselves, so place them beneath 50{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} to 75{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth until they reach 100mm to 150mm in height prior to being planted out into their permanent positions. At this stage they should be hardened off over several weeks to full sun unless it is being planted into a shady habitat.

Cuttings:

Cuttings from older wood can be taken in early October onwards are apparently rather easy to strike. 100mm to 200mm cuttings from the previos seasons growth are best.

1 Prepare the cutting mix by adding one third sharp clean river sand, one third peat and one third perlite. These ingredients are sterilize,

2 Select good material from non diseased plants,

3 Select semi green stems for cuttings. Look for a stem with several nodes and remove all flower buds being careful not to tear the stem,

4 Place the cutting on a flat, hard surface, and make a clean cut down one side of the cutting at the base for 10mm with a sharp sterile knife or razor blade. – This scarification of the node will increase the chances of roots emerging from this spot. Now remove all but one or two the leaves, leaving the apex leaves in tact. If the leaves are very large in proportion to the stem, cut off the apical halves.

5 Fill a saucer with water, and place a little weak to medium rooting hormone into another container like a milk bottle top. Dip the node end of the cutting into the water and then into the rooting hormone. Tap off any excess hormone,

6 Use a small dipple stick or old pencil to poke a hole into the soilless potting mix. Ensure the hole is slightly larger than the stem diameter and be careful not to wipe the rooting hormone off the cuttings base, place the cuttings in a pattern ensuring the cuttings are not touching each other,

7 I like to place the pots in Plastic bags to help maintain temperature and moisture. Place in a semi shaded place like under 50{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth.

8 When the cuttings have struck, open the bag to allow air circulation for a few days to a week,

9 Once hardened off remove the cuttings from the bag and allow to further hardening for a few more days,

10 Transplant into a good potting mix to grow on.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gaultheria appressa

Classification:

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Asterids

Order: Ericales

Family: Ericaeae

Subfamily: Styphelioideae

Genus: Is named in honour of Dr. Hugues Jean Gaulthier; 1708-1756, who was a Canadian Botanist and physician.

Specie: From Appressus, which is Latin for lying close together. It refers to structures or organs usually hairs, which are lying close together or close against another’s surface.

Sub specie:

Common Name: White Wax Berry.

Distribution:

Gaultheria appressa is a found south from the Bellinger River in north eastern coastal New South Wales to the Cumberland River in southern coastal Victoria. It is mainly found on the Western Slopes, on and east of the Great Dividing Range to the coast. There is an isolated population near Narrabri in northern New South Wales west of the range.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gaultheria+appressa#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gaultheria appressa prefers dense shade, partial shade or full sun. It usually grows in woodlands, moist schlerophyll forest or dry schlerophyll forest or on rainforest margins. It is often found in gullies and riparian zones and among rocks close to edges of cliffs and escarpments. The altitude ranges from 700 meters ASL to 1450 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 3 degrees in July to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 550mm to an average of 2000mm.

Soil Requirements:

Gaultheria appressa prefers better quality light clays to medium clays. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalts, shales, metamorphic rocks or granite. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 6pH are preferred. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.5m to 2m by 0.8m to 2m.

Characteristics:

Gaultheria appressa grows as a small shrub with brown to reddish-brown stems. The stems are covered in reddish-brown appressed, hispid hairs.

The alternate elliptical, oblong-elliptical or narrow ovate leaves of Gultheri appressa measure 30mm to 80mm in length and 10mm to 30mm in width. The bases are cuneate while the apexes are truncate to obtuse with a broad apiculate tip. The discolourous laminas are mid green to deep green, semi glossy to glossy and glabrous on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are slightly paler. The laminas are flat or very slightly recurve upwards from the mid vein to the margins which are more noticeable near the base and decurve downwards near the apex. The laminas are raised between the mid vein and lateral and lateral and secondary veins. The margins are finely and evenly toothed. The mid vein is prominent while the lateral and secondary veins are slightly prominent on the lower lamina and are sparsely covered in reddish, appressed, hispid hairs. The mid vein is distinctly visible as are the lateral and secondary veins on the upper lamina. The reddish-brown petioles are covered in reddish-brown appressed hispid hairs and measure 1mm to 3mm in length.

The new growth is pale green to lime-green, smooth and glossy.

The inflorescences of Gaultheria appressa are born on racemes from the upper leaf axils or as small terminal clusters. There are 2 basal bracteoles on the pedicel while the individual flowers are subtended by a small bract.

The 5 ovate to broad lanceolate sepals enlarge; turn creamy white to surround the fruit. The sepals measure 7mm to 11mm in length when fully enlarged. The corolla measures 2.5mm to 4mm in length. The flowers appear from October to February.

Gaultheria appressa fruits measure 7mm to 10mm in diameter including the white calyxes.

Wildlife:

The flowers Gaultheria appressa are attractive to several different species of butterflies when in flower while the fruit is eaten by most fruit eating birds.

The fruits and sepals are edible but are rather insipid.

Cultivation:

Gaultheria appressa make excellent plants placed along dry riverine gullies or along embankments. Try planting small ground covers or annuals in the fore ground to add height and length to the bed. It always looks green and fresh especially where adequate ground moisture is retained whether it is grown in medium shade or full sun.

It is very suitable on fatty sands to heavy clay soils whether it is deep or skeletal. As garden subjects it will grow from 800mm to 1200mm by 800mm to 1500mm in diameter when grown in the open. It is cold tolerant to temperatures at least as low as minus 5 degrees once established and can withstand severe frosts.

It should be more widely grown with in temperate areas of Australia and tried at least as far north as Toowoomba where basalt or granite outcrops prevail. It has never been popular due to the difficulty in establishing shrubs in the garden. It suits small to large gardens and can be lightly tipped pruned annually to increase bushiness and flowering. It is most suited to being be used as an understory plant at the verges of rainforest gardens or for hedges and screens in semi shaded areas.

If mild native fertilizers are used they will develop deep sea green leaves.

Propagation:

Seeds: Seeds are very difficult to germinate and even when germination is good is highly erratic. The seeds are very fine and probably need to go through an extended period of scarifying in the freezer of the refrigerator. Place the fresh seeds in a calico bag and place the bag in the freezer for at least 10 weeks prior to sowing.

Sow the treated seeds of Gaultheria appressa seeds into a seed raising mix and cover with1mm of fine sand. When the seedlings are 20mm to 30mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 20mm native tubes using a good organic mix and be careful not to damage the roots as like all members of the Ericaeae family have very fine roots that are susceptible to damage killing the seedlings once disturbed.

Once the seedlings reach 60mm to 80mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Mass plantings are best achieved by planting them at 1.5 meters to 2 meters centers.

Cuttings:

Cuttings need to be taken in Spring following the last frosts.

Cuttings with 2 or 3 pairs of nodes are required.

As the plants are susecptable to root damage cuttings are best placed into individual tubes or small peat pots.

Place 2 or 3 cuttings oin each tube for best results.

1 Prepare the cutting mix by adding one third sharp clean river sand, one third peat and one third perlite. These ingredients are sterilize,

2 Select good material from non diseased plants,

3 Select semi green stems for cuttings. Look for a stem with two or three nodes,

8 When the cuttings have struck, open the bag to allow air circulation for a few days to a week,

9 Once hardened off remove the cuttings from the bag and allow to further hardening for a few more days,

10 Transplant into a good potting mix to grow on.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gaultheria viridicarpa

Classification:

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Asterids

Order: Ericales

Family: Ericaeae

Subfamily: Styphelioideae

Genus: Is named in honour of Dr. Hugues Jean Gaulthier; 1708-1756, who was a Canadian Botanist and physician.

Specie: From Virens, which is Latin for green and Karpós, which is Ancient Greek for a fruit. It refers to fruits, which are bright green in colour.

Sub specie: Gaultheria viridicarpa subsp. merinoensis From Merino, which is Latin/Spanish for the wool of a sheep or sheep and Anum/Ensis, which is Latin for to originate from. It refers to plants which were first discovered on Mount Merinos in far south eastern Queensland.

Sub specie: Gaultheria viridicarpa subsp. Viridicarpa. From Virens, which is Latin for green and Karpós, which is Ancient Greek for a fruit. It refers to fruits, which are bright green in colour.

Common Name: Green Wax Berry.

Distribution:

Gaultheria viridicarpa subsp. Merinoensis is found west from Springbrook National Park and Mount Merino on the MacPherson Range and near Warwick in far south eastern Queensland.

Gaultheria viridicarpa subsp. viridicarpa is found the New England National Park to Majors Point near Ebor in northern New South Wales.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gaultheria+viridicarpa#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gaultheria viridicarpa prefers dense shade to partial shade. It usually grows in montane woodlands on cliff faces and ledges, gullies or riparian zones, among rocks close to edges of cliffs and escarpments. The altitude ranges from 1000 meters ASL to 1560 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 4.degrees in July to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 900mm to an average of 1000mm.

Soil Requirements:

Gaultheria viridicarpa prefers better quality light clays to medium clays soils mixed with rocks or screes. The soils are usually derived from partially decomposed black basalts. The soils pH ranges from 5.5pH to 6pH are preferred. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to slightly saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.2m to 0.7m by 1m to 1.6m.

Characteristics:

Gaultheria viridicarpa grows as a small spreading shrub with glabrous stems or stems that are sparsely covered in reddish-brown appressed, hispid hairs.

The alternate, coriaceous leaves of Gaultheria viridicarpa’s are narrow elliptical, broad ovate. The leaves measure 15mm to 60mm in length and 6mm to 20mm in width. The bases are tapering rounded while the apexes are acute with an apiculate tip. The discolourous laminas are mid green to deep green, semi glossy to glossy and glabrous on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are slightly paler. The laminas are flat or very slightly recurve upwards from the mid vein to the margins and decurve downwards near the apex. The margins are finely and evenly toothed. The mid vein is prominent while the lateral and secondary veins are slightly prominent on the lower lamina. The mid vein is distinctly visible while the lateral and secondary veins are impressed on the upper lamina. The mid green often tinged reddish-brown petioles and measure 1mm to 3mm in length.

The new growth is pale green to lime-green, smooth and glossy.

The inflorescences of Gaultheria viridicarpa are born singularly from the upper leaf axils or as small terminal clusters or on a short panicle from the terminals. There are 4.to 9 white tipped lime-green, elliptical basal bracteoles on the pedicel while the individual flowers are subtended by a small white lime-green tipped elliptical bract.

The 5 white tipped lime-green, ovate to lanceolate sepals enlarge, become fleshy and surround the fruit. The sepals measure 7mm to 11mm in length when fully enlarged. The corolla measures 4mm to 5.5mm in length. The flowers appear from October to February.

Gaultheria viridicarpa fruits measure 5mm to 6.5mm in diameter including the green calyxes.

Wildlife:

The flowers Gaultheria viridicarpa are attractive to several different species of butterflies when in flower while the fruit is eaten by most fruit eating birds.

The fruits and sepals are edible but are rather insipid.

Cultivation:

Gaultheria viridicarpa would make excellent plants placed along dry riverine gullies or along steep embankments. Try planting small ground covers or annuals in the fore ground to add height and length to the bed. It always looks green and fresh especially where adequate ground moisture is retained whether it is grown in medium shade or full sun.

It is very suitable on heavy clay soils whether it is deep or skeletal provided there is a lot of gravel present. As garden subjects it will probably grow from 0.5 meters to 0.6 meters in height by 0.8 meters to 1.7 meters in diameter when grown in the open. It is cold tolerant to temperatures at least as low as minus 5 degrees once established and can withstand severe frosts.

It should be more widely grown in temperate areas of Australia and tried at least as far north as Toowoomba where basalt or granite outcrops prevail. It has never been popular due to the difficulty in establishing shrubs in the garden. It suits small to large gardens and can be lightly tipped pruned annually to increase bushiness and flowering. It would be most suited to being be used as an understory plant at the verges of rainforest gardens or for hedges and screens in semi shaded areas.

If mild native fertilizers are used they will develop deep sea green leaves.

Propagation:

Seeds: The seeds of Gaultheria viridicarpa are very difficult to obtain and may be similar to Gaultheria appressa to germinate and even when germination is good is highly erratic. The seeds are very fine. The seeds probably need to go through an extended period of scarifying in the freezer of the refrigerator. Place the fresh seeds in a calico bag and place the bag in the freezer for at least 10 weeks prior to sowing.

Sow the treated seeds of Gaultheria viridicarpa seeds into a seed raising mix and cover with1mm of fine sand. When the seedlings are 20mm to 30mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 20mm native tubes using a good organic mix and be careful not to damage the roots as like all members of the Ericaeae family have very fine roots that are susceptible to damage killing the seedlings once disturbed.

Once the seedlings reach 60mm to 80mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Mass plantings are best achieved by planting them at 1.5 meters to 2 meters centers.

Cuttings:

Cuttings need to be taken in Spring following the last frosts.

Cuttings with 2 or 3 pairs of nodes are required.

As the plants are susecptable to root damage cuttings are best placed into individual tubes or small peat pots.

Place 2 or 3 cuttings oin each tube for best results.

1 Prepare the cutting mix by adding one third sharp clean river sand, one third peat and one third perlite. These ingredients are sterilize,

2 Select good material from non diseased plants,

3 Select semi green stems for cuttings. Look for a stem with two or three nodes,

8 When the cuttings have struck, open the bag to allow air circulation for a few days to a week,

9 Once hardened off remove the cuttings from the bag and allow to further hardening for a few more days,

10 Transplant into a good potting mix to grow on.

Further Comments from Readers:

Geijera parviflora

Classification:

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Rosids

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Order: Sapindales

Family: Rutaceae

Genus: Is named in honour of J. D. Geijer; 1708-1756, who was a Swedish botanist.

Specie: From Parvum, which is Latin for small, little or puny and and Flōris, which is Latin for a flower or Flōs, which is the Roman goddess of spring and flowers. It refers to flowers which are much smaller than other species in the genus.

Sub Species: Geijera parviflora subsp. parviflora From Parvum, which is Latin for small, little or puny and Flōris, which is Latin for a flower or Flōs, which is the Roman goddess of spring and flowers. It refers to flowers which are much smaller than other species in the genus.

Sub specie: Geijera parviflora subsp. crassifolia From Crassum, which is Latin for thick and Folium, which is Latin for foliage. It refers to the foliage or leaves, which are thicker than other sub species in the species.

Common Name: In the Aboriginal language it is known as Wilgarr.

Distribution:

Geijera parviflora subsp. parviflora is mainly found on the eastern two thirds of Queensland south of Charters Towers and most of New South Wales west of the Great Dividing Range and into the eastern side of South Australia. There are some isolated populations further west in coastal South Australia and into coastal Western Australia

Geijera parviflora subsp. crassifolia is found east from Lake Sharpe in southern central Western Australia to Berri and Barmera in the southern quarter of South Australia.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Geijera+parviflora#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Geijera parviflora prefers full sun. It usually grows in dry inland regions in mixed open woodlands. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 1000 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 3 degrees in July to 44 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 250mm to an average of 750mm.

Soil Requirements:

Geijera parviflora prefers skeletal to deep sandy loams, light clays to medium, stony clays, deep rock screes in gorges or beneath cliffs and ledges. The soils are usually derived from decomposed sandstones, or at times granites. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 6pH. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 9m to 26m by 9m to 12m.

Characteristics:

Geijera parviflora grows as a small tree with weeping habit similar to the weeping willow. The trunks and larger branches are glabrous and smooth. The branchlets and juvenile stems are mid green, glabrous and covered in pale grey, caduceous, puberulent hairs.

The linear to linear-lanceolate leaves measure 35mm to 180mm in length by 4mm to 12mm in width. The concolourous leaves are deep green, glabrous and covered in pale grey, caduceous, puberulent hairs. The bases are attenuate or cuneate, while the apexes are acute or obtuse. The mid vein is strongly raised on lower lamina, while the lateral veins are at 70 degrees and barely visible. The margins are entire, slightly incurved and may be slightly undulating. The petiole measures 3mm to 12mm in length.

The inflorescences of Geijera salicifolia are born as small, loose terminal panicles. The panicles measure 40mm to 70mm in length by 20mm to 50mm in diameter. The pedicels measure 0.5mm to 2mm in length.

The 5 yellowish-green elliptical sepals are glabrous to sparsely covered in pale grey pubescent hairs. The sepals measure 0.8mm to 1mm in length. The 5 triangular, valvate petals are glabrous and measure 1.5mm to 2mm in length.

The pale green convex disc has 5 erect, white filaments that measure 1.5mm to 2mm in length while the pale green, erect style measures 1mm to 1.5mm in length. The 5 sherical, yellow anthers are basifixed. The flowers appear from June to November.

Geijera parviflora has globose drupes contain a single black seed that measure 4mm to 5mm in diameter.

Wildlife:

The leaves of Geijera parviflora have a fetid odour, which attracts many species of blowflies as pollinators.

Cultivation:

Geijera parviflora is a beautiful small growing tree for use in gardens both small and large. It has been used frequently by various councils as a street tree in regional areas west of the Great Dividing Range.

It is relatively slow to establish itself but when it does it has a dense weeping canopy. In cultivation the trees will grow to from 8 meters to 10 meters by 6 meters to 8 meters in diameter when grown in the open. It makes an excellent specimen tree or very attractive tree around homesteads in formal or informal plantings.

Geijera parviflora is at its best when given a little extra water and a native organic fertilizer blend on an annual basis. Trees should be fertilized every 6 months during the first couple of years and annually thereafter. Mulching is highly recommended to add nutrients and organic matter to help conserve moisture and control weeds.

It would make an excellent tree for around B-B-Que areas especially if planted with native arid annuals below for added colour.

Propagation:

Seeds: The seeds of Geijera parviflora are slow and erratic to germinate. Sow fresh seeds or seeds from the previous season after moving them from the refrigerator over winter. Place Geijera salicifolia seeds into a seed raising mix and place the trays beneath 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth and keep moist. When the seedlings are 50mm to 60mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 200mm to 250mm in height plant them out into their permanent position.

Further Comments from Readers:

Geijera salicifolia

Classification:

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Rosids

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Order: Sapindales

Family: Rutaceae

Genus: Is named in honour of J. D. Geijer; 1708-1756, who was a Swedish botanist.

Specie: From Salix, which is Latin for the weeping willow and Folium, which is Latin for foliage. It refers to the foliage being similar to that of the weeping willow in the Salix genus.

Sub specie:

Common Name:

Distribution:

Geijera salicifolia is a found east of a line south from Cliff Island National Park on Cape York Peninsular to Bladdensburg National Park across to Carnarvon National Park and south to Jervis Bay in New South Wales. It is found on and east of the Great Dividing Range.

It is also found south and east of West Island and Vanderin Islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria south to Carrinbirini Conservation Park and Djumberana Clay Pan in the Northern Territory then east to Lawn Hill National Park on the Northern Territory Queensland border north to the coast.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Geijera+salicifolia#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Geijera salicifolia prefers dense shade, partial shade or full sun. It usually grows in dry monsoonal forests dry rain forest and drier positions in well-developed rain forest, well developed littoral rainforests, exposed dry riparian forests or moist inland gorges. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 1000 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from 12 degrees in July to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 350mm to an average of 3200mm.

Soil Requirements:

Geijera salicifolia prefers skeletal to deep sandy loams, light clays to medium, stony clays, deep rock screes in gorges or beneath cliffs and ledges. The soils are usually derived from decomposed sandstones, or at times granites and accumulated beach sands. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 6pH. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 6m to 9m by 5m to 8m.

Characteristics:

Geijera salicifolia grows as a small tree with a straight grey deep brown to deep grey-brown rough bole. The trunks and larger branches are often covered in lichens in eastern populations growing adjacent to rainforests. The branchlets are glabrous and smooth while the branchlets are mid green, smooth and glabrous or covered in pale grey, caduceous, and puberulent hairs. All parts of the plant exude clear yellow latex when damaged.

The coriaceous, alternate leaves of Geijera salicifolia’s are oblong-elliptical, narrow elliptical ovate. The leaves measure 35mm to 190mm in length and 10mm to 70mm in width. The involute margins of the petioles are glabrous to sparsely covered white puberulent hairs and measure 3mm to 22mm in length. The bases are usually cuneate or rarely rounded while the apexes are acuminate. The discolourous laminas are mid green to deep green, smooth, dull and glabrous or sparsely covered in fine off white puberulent hairs on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are paler. The laminas recurve upwards from the mid vein to the margins while the margins are entire and slightly undulating. The mid vein and lateral veins are prominent on both laminas but are more prominent on the lower laminas. The minute oil are numerous. The leaves are aromatic when crushed.

The undeveloped terminal leaves roll lengthways into a cylinder or narrow cone resembling the sheathing stipules on Ficus. The new growth is pale green to lime-green, smooth and glossy.

The inflorescences of Geijera salicifolia are born as small, loose terminal panicles. The panicles measure 40mm to 100mm in length by 25mm to 55mm in diameter. There are 100 to 230 individual flowers to a panicle. The pedicels measure 1mm to 1.2mm in length.

The 5 yellowish-green elliptical sepals are glabrous to sparsely covered in fawn ciliate hairs. The sepals measure 0.5mm to 1.2mm in length. The 5 oblong petals have a broad acute apex and measure 2mm to 3mm in length. The petals contain 20 to 25 relatively large oil glands.

The white, filiform filaments are attached to the outer rim of the disk and are opposite the petals. The stamens measure 0.1mm to 0.3mm while the anthers are brown. The mounded bright yellow disk encloses the lower part of the ovary and style. The style is yellow-green and measures 0.2mm to 0.4mm in length. The flowers appear from September to November.

Geijera salicifolia’s fruits are orbicular to ovoid drupes. The drupes measure 5mm to 7mm in diameter. The green berries turn olive-brown externally and creamy fawn to creamy pastel yellow internally when ripe. The external surface is glandular-rugose due to large oil glands below the epidermis and is smooth and glabrous internally.

The orbicular seeds measure 3.5mm to 4mm in length 5mm to 6mm in diameter. The seeds have a glossy, black sarcotesta completely enclosing the seed. The testa is comparatively thick.

Wildlife:

The flowers Geijera salicifolia’s leaves are the food source for the beautiful Macleay’s Swallowtail larvae (Graphium macleayanus) and the beautiful Orchard Butterfly’s larvae (Papilio aegeus). Common & Waterhouse.

Cultivation:

Geijera salicifolia is a beautiful small growing tree for use in gardens both small and large. It has been used frequently by various councils as a street tree in drier locations on both sides of The Great Dividing Range.

Geijera salicifolia is at its best when given a little extra water and a native organic fertilizer blend on an annual basis. Trees should be fertilized every 6 months during the first couple of years and annually thereafter. Mulching is highly recommended to add nutrients and organic matter to help conserve moisture and control weeds.

It would make an excellent tree for around B-B-Que areas especially if planted with native arid annuals below for added colour.

Propagation:

Seeds: The seeds of Geijera salicifolia are slow and erratic to germinate. Sow fresh seeds or seeds from the previous season after moving them from the refrigerator over winter. Place Geijera salicifolia seeds into a seed raising mix and place the trays beneath 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth and keep moist. When the seedlings are 50mm to 60mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 200mm to 250mm in height plant them out into their permanent position.

Further Comments from Readers:

Geitonoplesium cymosum

Classification:

Unranked: Monocots

Order: Liliales

Family: Hemerocallidaceae

Genus: From Geiton, which is Ancient Greek for a neighbour and Plesion which is Ancient Greek for near. It refers to plants, which are very closely related to the Luzuriaga genus.

Specie: From Kyma, which is Ancient Greek or Cyma, which is Latin for a type of flower cluster. It refers to flowers, which open from the centre first, then in succession outward toward the periphery.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Scrambling Lily.

Distribution:

Geitonoplesium cymosum is found south from Cardwell in northern Queensland to Orbost in north eastern Victoria. It is mainly found on and east of the Great Dividing Range.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Geitonoplesium+cymosum#tab_mapView

Habitat:

Aspect / Climate:

Geitonoplesium cymosum prefers full sun to light shade or dappled shade usually starting life in light shade as an understory plant adjacent to rainforests and wet Eucalyptus forests. It grows along riverine rainforests and disturbed land. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 900 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from 0 degrees in July to 34.degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 450mm to an average of 1800mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Geitonoplesium cymosum prefers better quality fertile sandy loams, to medium clays. The soils are usually derived from decomposed basalts, sandstones, granites, shales or metamorphic rocks. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 7pH. It does tolerate water logged. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 5m to 8m by 5m to 6m.

Characteristics:

Geitonoplesium cymosum grows as a strong wiry climber which twines around anything it comes in contact with. The deep sea green, glabrous stems are wiry and very strong almost impossible to break with bare hands. The stems branch from the leaf nodes or from ground level where it forms a medium size white lignotuber.

The adjacent, ovate to narrow lanceolate or linear leaves measure 30mm to 100mm in length 5mm to 25mm in width. The bases are rounded with the margin twisting as it approaches the petiole while the apexes are acute. The leaf margins are entire and flat. The petioles measure 1mm to 2mm in length. The leaves are concolourous, mid green, semi glossy to glossy. The mid vein is prominent on both the upper and lower laminas.

Geitonoplesium cymosum inflorescences are branched into small cymes at the apex of a stem. The peduncles measure 20mm to 25mm in length while the pedicles measure 5mm to 10mm in length. Flowers number 9 to 27 on a cyme. The 6 tepals measure 5mm to 10mm in length and are oblong with a broadly acuminate apex. Margins are entire on both the back 3 tepals (sepals) and the front 3 tepals (petals). The 12 stamens are erect and surround the ovary. The anthers are bright yellow and measure 6 to 8mm in length while the tepals are white to mauve. The style is white. The flowers appear from late September though to late February.

Geitonoplesium cymosum fruits are a globose berry. The black berries measure 10mm to 20mm in diameter and contain several black glossy seeds. Fruits are born from January to August.

Wildlife:

Geitonoplesium cymosum’s wildlife is unknown to the author.

Cultivation:

Geitonoplesium cymosum is a beautiful small creeper for fences but looks at its best when allowed to scramble over objects on the ground and where it receives some shade or dappled light during the day. It can be used successfully around pools and ponds because of its size. The attractive foliage and wiry stems are self-cleaning and maintenance is minimal. Hard pruning of large plants to within a couple of centimetres of the ground will rejuvenate them to vigorously return to their former best. After pruning water with a deep watering and use a double dose of one of our fertilizer recommendations. Plants recover and send out new shoots within a week.

It can be used to scramble over logs or between large rocks as a versatile ground cover. Cultivated plants will cover a low fence to around 2 to 3 square meters.

Regular use of an organic native fertilizer with adequate and even soil moisture will ensure a prolonged flowering and fruiting season. Tip pruning is also beneficial to ensure the plants remain dense.

Purchasing old woody plants from a nursery is not a problem, just cut all the growth off a centimetre or two from the ground after planting and give a good soaking with our recommended double strength fertilizer. In fact you may be purchasing a plant that already has a well-developed tuber which is ready to be invigorated.

Propagation:

Seeds: Sow fresh Geitonoplesium cymosum seeds into a seed raising mix. When the seedlings are 30mm to 50mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 200mm to 250mm in height plant them out into their permanent position. Mass plantings as a ground cover would need the seedlings to be planted at 2 meters to 3 meter centers.

Further Comments from Readers:

Genoplesium acuminatum

Classification:

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Superorder: Lilianae

Order: Asparagales

Family: Orcidaceae

Genus: From Genos which is Ancient Greek for a race and Plesion which is Ancient Greek for to be near to. It refers to plants, which are closely related to the Prasophyllum genus.

Specie: From Acūminātum, which is Latin for a sharp tapering point. It refers to the apexes on the sepals.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Midge Orchid.

Distribution:

Genoplesium acuminatum is found south from Fraser Island in south eastern coastal Queensland to Karingai in central coastal New South Wales. It is found east of the Great Dividing Range near the coast.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Genoplesium+acuminatum#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Genoplesium acuminatum prefers medium shade to dappled shade. It grows in sparse sclerophyll coastal forest especially adjacent to heaths and wallums and in heath. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 850 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from 5 degrees in August to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 850mm to 1650mm average per annum.

Soil Requirements:

Genoplesium acuminatum prefers to grow on better quality sandy loams to light gritty fatty sandy loams. The soils are usually derived from decomposed sandstone over sandstone, or accumulated peaty sands behind the back dunes. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 6.5pH are preferred where the water can drain freely. It does not tolerate water logged soils but moisture is a strong requirement for good growth through capillary action. Non saline soils to slightly saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.2m to 0.4m by 0.03m to 0.05m.

Characteristics:

Genoplesium acuminatum grows as a terrestrial orchid on short horizontal tuberous, unbranched rhizomes. The plants grow rapidly with the onset of the wet season to produce flowers and seeds dying back completely during the drier months of the year.

Genoplesium acuminatum has a single clasping leaf like sheath that is appressed against the spike. The orchids lack chlorophyll except for the spikes and the single diminutive leaf, growing most likely as saprophytes on decomposing vegetable or animal matter.

The inflorescences of Genoplesium acuminatum is a long, moderately dense, stiff, erect spike. The spikes usually have 6 to 16 individual flowers. The erect, inflorescence measure 20mm to 60mm in length while the pedicel measure 3mm to 5mm in length. The ovary which appears to be part of the pedicel is slightly swollen at the base.

The nodding deep maroon flowers measure 6mm to 9mm in length overall by 6mm to 7mm in width overall.

Thew dorsal sepal is broad-ovate and measures 3.5mm to4mm in length by 2.1mm to 2.2mm in width. The margins are coarsely ciliate. The 2 linear to lanceolate lateral sepals measure 4.5mm to 5mm in length by 1mm to 1.5mm in width. It is not gibbous at the base but widely divergent.

The 3 petals are broad-ovate to lanceolate, and measure 3.5mm to 4.5mm in length by 1.2mm to 1.4mm in width. The apexes are noticably long acuminate to filiform, with coarsely ciliate margins.

The labellum is ovate to lanceolate and measures 6mm to 7.3mm in length by 2.5mm in width. The apexes are long acuminate, with recurved, margins and coarse ciliat hairs that measure 1.2mm in length. It is oblong callus with a retuse or emarginate apex, extending about half way to the labellum apex. The flowers appear from December to May.

Genoplesium acuminatum’s capsules are nodding and turn pale grey-brown when ripe.

Wildlife:

Genoplesium acuminatum’s wildlife is unknown to the author.

Cultivation:

Genoplesium acuminatum is an unusual terrestrial orchid to grow in the garden. If you are lucky enough to have them growing it is worthwhile preserving with in situation. Not much is known about their cultivation outside their natural habitat. The best method to establish a colony is to mark the area with stakes where plants are known to occur. Use local mulch to lightly top dress the area on an annual basis.

Propagation: All orchids are declared rare, vulnerable or endangered are protected by Federal and State Laws and must not be removed from the wild unless you are a land developer, mining company or main Roads department etc. This includes bulbs, roots, leaves, seeds and flowers. No part of any plant can be removed from Federal, State or Local Government land without the prior permission of the authority and this includes the spore.

Genoplesium acuminatum seeds require treatment before sowing. Really Orchid seeds are meant for professionals with time, equipment and space. However if you wish to persevere then here are the basics and you are learning from an amateur. Once the orchids are large enough to handle treat them similarly to the genre Liparis.

1. Obtain relevant materials

The first step in growing orchid from seed will be sourcing and having at the ready all materials that will be required in the propagation process.

This includes all of the following:

Unripe orchid seed capsule. If there are 2 capsules secure the second capsule immediately after the first capsule splits or if only one capsule as soon as it changes colour.

Orchid gelling medium with agar which can be purchased from an orchid society or a specialist nursery.

Distilled water

Cooking pot

Spoon

Oven-safe glass or polypropylene containers with lids

Sealable bags

Clean, sterilized cutting board

Rubber gloves

Paper towels

Tweezers or forceps

70 percent ethanol

Bleach

Scalpel or sharp knife

Planting pot

Orchid compost

Length of wire metal

Plastic spray bottle.

deep petri dishes or sterile jars.

2. Prepare agar medium

The agar medium is a special orchid gelling mixture that distilled water will be added to distilled water.

To prepare the medium, mix equal parts of orchid gelling medium with distilled water in a cooking pot.

Place the pot on a stove and bring the mixture to boil for while stirring continuously for two minutes.

Pour the mixture into the petri dishes glass or propylene containers while ensuring not to fill the containers above 20 percent of their volume.

Loosely replace the lids to the containers. Sterilize the containers by heating them up in a microwave oven for between 2 to 3 minutes.

Spray 70 percent ethanol into a sealable bag to create a sterile environment. Transfer the heated containers into the sealable bag.

Allow the containers to cool a bit before tightening their lids and then sealing the bag. Leave the containers to stand for a few days until the mixture solidifies.

3. Prepare seed capsule and work surface

Place an open pot of water on a stove and bring to boil. Place the cutting board in the oven and sterilize.

Put on rubber gloves and sterilize the forceps, and scalpel with 70 percent ethanol.

Insert the seed capsule into a bowel filled with bleach for about fifteen minutes.

Sterilize seed capsule again with 70 percent ethanol and place on grill.

Using the sterilized scalpel, cut open the seed capsule to reveal the seeds. Using a scalpel or sharp knife, scrape out the seeds from the capsule unto an ethanol soaked paper towel.

4. Flasking of the seed

Take out the petri dishes or glass jars containers holding the agar medium. Over the steam, open up the containers and transfer seeds from the ethanol soaked paper towel into the individual containers using the sterilized forceps.

The amount of seeds will determine the number of containers required. Replace the lid of the containers and place them on a window sill that receives indirect sunlight.

5. Wait and exercise patience

All that can be done at this point is to wait until the seeds germinate. The amount of time that this might take varies and is dependent on the particular species.

Generally, the time can range from a few months to a few years. During this period of waiting, ensure the containers are free from contamination to ensure that germination is not disrupted.

6. Emergence of protocorms

Protocorms are tuber-shaped bodies with rhizoids that are produced by the young seedlings of various orchids. Protocorms represent the embryonic form of the orchid plant.

Their emergence after the period of waiting at an affirmation that everything in the propagation process is on track.

7. Transflask orchid seedlings is done after they have developed roots

Upon the emergence of the protocorms, consistently observe the growth of the seedlings. At the point when the seedlings appear to overcrowd the flask, transflasking should be carried out, typically within 30 and 60 days.

* This is done by removing individual seedlings using sterilized tweezers from the original containers and placing them in new containers also filled, in a proportion similar to the original, with agar medium. 6 to 8 in a standard petri dish or 1or 2 to a test tube

8. Transplant seedlings into planting pots

On the presumption that there are no disruptions to the plant growth, the seedlings will eventually outgrow the containers.

At this point, it is to be transplanted into planting pots. A good rule of thumb to determine when it is ready to be transplanted is when the seedlings have developed roots that have grown up to the length of one-quarter of an inch.

To transplant, prepare a planting pot or other container for receiving the seedling by majorly filling it up with coarse fir bark and possibly some slightly moist orchid compost mixture containing perlite, fine charcoal, redwood bark shavings, etc.

To extract the seedlings, submerge the containers in warm water to help loosen the agar gel.

Once the agar medium is softened, twist a piece of metal to form a loop and in turn, use it to carefully pull out the seedlings from the container. It is best done if the agar and seedling can be removed together.

The seedlings can be further rinsed in lukewarm water to remove any excess agar mixture still stuck to them.

Following this, the seedlings can now be planted into the prepared pot with at least 50mm of space between each individual seedling.

9. Positioning the orchid

The seedling once fully transplanted should be placed in a location that is warm with good indirect sun light.

Slowly position the pots into an area that closely assimilates the conditions it will be growing under.

The choice as to whether the plant should be exposed to full sun or in direct sunlight will be dependent on the particular orchid specie.

10. Subsequent care of the plant

After the first week, the seedling can be misted several times a day and watered just once a week.

A guide in watering the plant will be using the dryness of the fir back that is, water the plant until the fir back is completely moistened and wait till it has completely dried out before watering again.

Do not fertilize until the seedlings have fully established themselves.

Further Comments from Readers:

Genoplesium fimbriatum

Classification:

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Superorder: Lilianae

Order: Asparagales

Family: Orcidaceae

Genus: From Genos which is Ancient Greek for a race and Plesion which is Ancient Greek for to be near to. It refers to plants, which are closely related to the Prasophyllum genus.

Specie: From Fimbriātum, which is Latin for a fringe. It refers to the margins of a structure or organ, which has a long course fringe.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Fringed Midge Orchid.

Distribution:

Genoplesium fimbriatum is found south from Morayfield in south eastern Queensland to Nowra in coastal New South Wales with a disjunct population near Batlow west of the ACT. It is found on and east of the Great Dividing Range.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Genoplesium+fimbriatum#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Genoplesium fimbriatum prefers medium shade to dappled shade. It grows as an understory terrestrial orchid in open moist schlerophyll forests and in closed woodlands. It is found in low lying areas close to the coast adjacent to coastal heaths and wallums and plateau or montane moss heaths which have rising water tables close to the surface. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 850 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 5 degrees in August to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 850mm to 1150mm average per annum.

Soil Requirements:

Genoplesium fimbriatum prefers to grow on better quality sandy loams to light gritty fatty sandy loams or light clays. The soils are usually derived from decomposed sandstone over sandstone, brown basalt, black basalt granites and accumulated peaty sands behind the back dunes. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 6.5pH are preferred where the water can drain freely. It does not tolerate water logged soils but moisture is a strong requirement for good growth through capillary action. Non saline soils to slightly saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.2m to 0.4m by 0.03m to 0.05m.

Characteristics:

Genoplesium fimbriatum grows as a terrestrial orchid on short horizontal tuberous, unbranched rhizomes. The plants grow rapidly with the onset of the wet season to produce leaves, flowers and seeds dying back completely during the drier months of the year.

Genoplesium fimbriatum’s has a single clasping leaf like sheath that is appressed to the spike. The orchids lack chlorophyll except for the spikes growing most likely growing as saprophytes on decomposing vegetable matter.

The inflorescences of Genoplesium fimbriatum is a long stiff, erect spike. The spikes usually have 5 to 30 individual flowers. The erect, spikes measure 200mm to 400mm in length while the inflorescence measure 50mm to 120mm in length while the pedicel measure 3mm to 5mm in length. The ovary which appears to be part of the pedicel is slightly swollen at the base. The flowers have a mild lemon scent.

The nodding pastel yellow flowers measure 12mm to 16mm in length overall by 9mm to 12mm in width overall.

The dorsal sepal is narrow ovate to ovate with an acuminate apex while the margins and apex are densely covered in long purplish ciliate hairs. The yellow dorsal sepal is striped in purple. The dorsal sepal measures 4mm to 5.5mm in length by 2mm to 2.8mm in width.

The linear to lanceolate lateral sepals are yellowish tinged purple, glabrous, with an acute apex. The margins are entire. The lateral sepals measure 5mm to 6mm in length by 1.2mm to 1.5mm in width.

The narrow ovate to ovate lateral petals are yellowish with purple stripes and have a narrow acute apex. The lateral petals measure 2.5mm to 3mm in length by 0.8mm to 1mm in width. The lateral petals margins are entire with short to long ciliate hairs.

The linear, thin chartaceous labellum measures 4mm to 4.5mm in length by 0.9mm to 1.1mm in width. The apex is recurved while the margins are entire and covered in coarse pink to purplish-red ciliate hairs which measure 1mm to 1.3mm in length. The flowers appear from January to May.

Genoplesium fimbriatum’s capsules are nodding and turn pale grey-brown when ripe.

Wildlife:

Genoplesium fimbriatum’s wildlife is unknown to the author.

Cultivation:

It is an unusual terrestrial orchid to grow in the garden. If you are lucky enough to have them growing it is worthwhile preserving with in situation. Not much is known about their cultivation outside their natural habitat. The best method to establish a colony is to mark the area with stakes where plants are known to occur. Use local mulch to lightly top dress the area on an annual basis.

Propagation:

Seeds: All orchids are declared rare, vulnerable or endangered are protected by Federal and State Laws and must not be removed from the wild unless you are a land developer, mining company or main Roads department etc. This includes bulbs, roots, leaves, seeds and flowers. No part of any plant can be removed from Federal, State or Local Government land without the prior permission of the authority and this includes the spore.

The seeds require treatment before sowing. Really Orchid seeds are meant for professionals with time, equipment and space. However if you wish to persevere then here are the basics and you are learning from an amateur. Once the orchids are large enough to handle treat them similarly to the genre Liparis.

1. Obtain relevant materials

The first step in growing orchid from seed will be sourcing and having at the ready all materials that will be required in the propagation process.

This includes all of the following:

Unripe orchid seed capsule. If there are 2 capsules secure the second capsule immediately after the first capsule splits or if only one capsule as soon as it changes colour.

Orchid gelling medium with agar which can be purchased from an orchid society or a specialist nursery.

Distilled water

Cooking pot

Spoon

Oven-safe glass or polypropylene containers with lids

Sealable bags

Clean, sterilized cutting board

Rubber gloves

Paper towels

Tweezers or forceps

70 percent ethanol

Bleach

Scalpel or sharp knife

Planting pot

Orchid compost

Length of wire metal

Plastic spray bottle.

deep petri dishes or sterile jars.

2. Prepare agar medium

The agar medium is a special orchid gelling mixture that distilled water will be added to distilled water.

To prepare the medium, mix equal parts of orchid gelling medium with distilled water in a cooking pot.

Place the pot on a stove and bring the mixture to boil for while stirring continuously for two minutes.

Pour the mixture into the petri dishes glass or propylene containers while ensuring not to fill the containers above 20 percent of their volume.

Loosely replace the lids to the containers. Sterilize the containers by heating them up in a microwave oven for between 2 to 3 minutes.

Spray 70 percent ethanol into a sealable bag to create a sterile environment. Transfer the heated containers into the sealable bag.

Allow the containers to cool a bit before tightening their lids and then sealing the bag. Leave the containers to stand for a few days until the mixture solidifies.

3. Prepare seed capsule and work surface

Place an open pot of water on a stove and bring to boil. Place the cutting board in the oven and sterilize.

Put on rubber gloves and sterilize the forceps, and scalpel with 70 percent ethanol.

Insert the seed capsule into a bowel filled with bleach for about fifteen minutes.

Sterilize seed capsule again with 70 percent ethanol and place on grill.

Using the sterilized scalpel, cut open the seed capsule to reveal the seeds. Using a scalpel or sharp knife, scrape out the seeds from the capsule unto an ethanol soaked paper towel.

4. Flasking of the seed

The amount of seeds will determine the number of containers required. Replace the lid of the containers and place them on a window sill that receives indirect sunlight.

5. Wait and exercise patience

All that can be done at this point is to wait until the seeds germinate. The amount of time that this might take varies and is dependent on the particular species.

Generally, the time can range from a few months to a few years. During this period of waiting, ensure the containers are free from contamination to ensure that germination is not disrupted.

6. Emergence of protocorms

Protocorms are tuber-shaped bodies with rhizoids that are produced by the young seedlings of various orchids. Protocorms represent the embryonic form of the orchid plant.

Their emergence after the period of waiting at an affirmation that everything in the propagation process is on track.

7. Transflask orchid seedlings is done after they have developed roots

8. Transplant seedlings into planting pots

On the presumption that there are no disruptions to the plant growth, the seedlings will eventually outgrow the containers.

To extract the seedlings, submerge the containers in warm water to help loosen the agar gel.

The seedlings can be further rinsed in lukewarm water to remove any excess agar mixture still stuck to them.

Following this, the seedlings can now be planted into the prepared pot with at least 50mm of space between each individual seedling.

9. Positioning the orchid

The seedling once fully transplanted should be placed in a location that is warm with good indirect sun light.

Slowly position the pots into an area that closely assimilates the conditions it will be growing under.

The choice as to whether the plant should be exposed to full sun or in direct sunlight will be dependent on the particular orchid specie.

10. Subsequent care of the plant

After the first week, the seedling can be misted several times a day and watered just once a week.

Do not fertilize until the seedlings have fully established themselves.

Further Comments from Readers:

Genoplesium rufum

Classification:

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Superorder: Lilianae

Order: Asparagales

Family: Orcidaceae

Genus: From Genosm which is Ancient Greek for a race and Plesion which is Ancient Greek for to be near to. It refers to plants, which are closely related to the Prasophyllum genus.

Specie: From Rufescere, which is Latin for deep rusty-red to tawny-red. It refers to leaves and/or stems, which are covered in deep rusty-red hairs.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Red Midge Orchid.

Distribution:

Genoplesium rufum is found in several disjunct populations south from the Blackdown Tablelands National Park and then east in a line south of Maryborough in central eastern Queensland to Ararat in south western Victoria. It is also found south from Tumby Bay to the southern tip of Eyre Peninsular, south from Bagnall Hill to Totol Hill on York Peninsular and south from Billiat Conservation Park to Mount Gambier in the south eastern corner of South Australia. Though wide spread it is not common in any area.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Genoplesium+rufum#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Genoplesium rufum prefers medium shade to dappled shade. It grows as an understory terrestrial orchid in open moist schlerophyll forests and in closed woodlands. It is found in low lying areas close to the coast adjacent to coastal heaths and wallums and plateau or montane moss heaths which have rising water tables close to the surface. The plants grow rapidly with the onset of the wet season to produce leaves, flowers and seeds dying back completely during the drier months of the year. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 950 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 5 degrees in August to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 300mm to 1600mm average per annum.

Soil Requirements:

Genoplesium rufum prefers better quality sandy loams to light gritty fatty sandy loams. The soils are usually derived from decomposed sandstone over sandstone, brown basalt, black basalt granite, accumulated peaty sands behind the back dunes and silty alluviums. The soils pH ranges from 5.5pH to 7pH are preferred where the water can drain freely. It does not tolerate water logged soils but moisture is a strong requirement for good growth through capillary action. Non saline soils to slightly saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.1m to 0.25m by 0.03m to 0.05m.

Characteristics:

Genoplesium rufum grows as a terrestrial orchid on short horizontal tuberous, unbranched rhizomes.

Genoplesium has a single clasping leaf like sheath that is appressed to the spike. The orchids lack chlorophyll except for the spikes growing most likely growing as saprophytes on decomposing vegetable matter.

The inflorescences of Genoplesium rufum is a long stiff, dense, erect spike. The spikes usually have 1 to 25 individual flowers. The erect, spikes measure 150mm to 250mm in length while the inflorescence measure 5mm to 50mm in length while the pedicel measure 1mm to 2mm in length. The ovary which appears to be part of the pedicel but is slightly swollen at the base measures 2.5mm to 3mm in length. The flowers have a mild lemon scent.

The nodding deep maroon red to deep rusty red flowers measure 4mm to 6mm in length overall by 3mm to 4mm in width overall.

The dorsal sepal is ovate with an acuminate apex while the margins and apex are entire. The deep maroon to rusty red dorsal sepal measures 2mm to 3mm in length by 1.2mm to 2mm in width.

The linear to lanceolate, gibbous lateral sepals are purple-maroon to yellowish-brown tinged purple or reddish-maroon, glabrous, with an acute apex. The margins are entire. The lateral sepals measure 3mm to 3.6mm in length by 0.8mm to 1mm in width.

The ovate lateral petals are purple-maroon to yellowish with purple stripes and have an acute to acuminate apex. The lateral petals measure 1.8mm to 2.4mm in length by 0.8mm to 1mm in width. The lateral petals margins are entire or erose.

The ovate to obovate labellum measures 2mm to 3.5mm in length by 1.3mm to 2mm in width. The apex is obtuse to acute while the margins are entire or erose.

The callus is narrow ovate to narrow oblong and extends almost to the apex of the labellum.

The flowers appear from January to May.

Genoplesium rufum’s capsules are nodding and turn pale grey-brown when ripe.

Wildlife:

Genoplesium rufum’s wildlife is unknown to the author.

Cultivation:

Genoplesium rufum is an unusual terrestrial orchid to grow in the garden. If you are lucky enough to have them growing it is worthwhile preserving with in situation. Not much is known about their cultivation outside their natural habitat. The best method to establish a colony is to mark the area with stakes where plants are known to occur. Use local mulch to lightly top dress the area on an annual basis.

Propagation:

Genoplesium rufum seeds require treatment before sowing. Really Orchid seeds are meant for professionals with time, equipment and space. However if you wish to persevere then here are the basics and you are learning from an amateur. Once the orchids are large enough to handle treat them similarly to the genre Liparis.

1. Obtain relevant materials

The first step in growing orchid from seed will be sourcing and having at the ready all materials that will be required in the propagation process.

This includes all of the following:

Unripe orchid seed capsule. If there are 2 capsules secure the second capsule immediately after the first capsule splits or if only one capsule as soon as it changes colour.

Orchid gelling medium with agar which can be purchased from an orchid society or a specialist nursery.

Distilled water

Cooking pot

Spoon

Oven-safe glass or polypropylene containers with lids

Sealable bags

Clean, sterilized cutting board

Rubber gloves

Paper towels

Tweezers or forceps

70 percent ethanol

Bleach

Scalpel or sharp knife

Planting pot

Orchid compost

Length of wire metal

Plastic spray bottle.

deep petri dishes or sterile jars.

2. Prepare agar medium

The agar medium is a special orchid gelling mixture that distilled water will be added to distilled water.

To prepare the medium, mix equal parts of orchid gelling medium with distilled water in a cooking pot.

Place the pot on a stove and bring the mixture to boil for while stirring continuously for two minutes.

Pour the mixture into the petri dishes glass or propylene containers while ensuring not to fill the containers above 20 percent of their volume.

Loosely replace the lids to the containers. Sterilize the containers by heating them up in a microwave oven for between 2 to 3 minutes.

Spray 70 percent ethanol into a sealable bag to create a sterile environment. Transfer the heated containers into the sealable bag.

Allow the containers to cool a bit before tightening their lids and then sealing the bag. Leave the containers to stand for a few days until the mixture solidifies.

3. Prepare seed capsule and work surface

Place an open pot of water on a stove and bring to boil. Place the cutting board in the oven and sterilize.

Put on rubber gloves and sterilize the forceps, and scalpel with 70 percent ethanol.

Insert the seed capsule into a bowel filled with bleach for about fifteen minutes.

Sterilize seed capsule again with 70 percent ethanol and place on grill.

Using the sterilized scalpel, cut open the seed capsule to reveal the seeds. Using a scalpel or sharp knife, scrape out the seeds from the capsule unto an ethanol soaked paper towel.

4. Flasking of the seed

The amount of seeds will determine the number of containers required. Replace the lid of the containers and place them on a window sill that receives indirect sunlight.

5. Wait and exercise patience

All that can be done at this point is to wait until the seeds germinate. The amount of time that this might take varies and is dependent on the particular species.

Generally, the time can range from a few months to a few years. During this period of waiting, ensure the containers are free from contamination to ensure that germination is not disrupted.

6. Emergence of protocorms

Protocorms are tuber-shaped bodies with rhizoids that are produced by the young seedlings of various orchids. Protocorms represent the embryonic form of the orchid plant.

Their emergence after the period of waiting at an affirmation that everything in the propagation process is on track.

7. Transflask orchid seedlings is done after they have developed roots

8. Transplant seedlings into planting pots

On the presumption that there are no disruptions to the plant growth, the seedlings will eventually outgrow the containers.

To extract the seedlings, submerge the containers in warm water to help loosen the agar gel.

The seedlings can be further rinsed in lukewarm water to remove any excess agar mixture still stuck to them.

Following this, the seedlings can now be planted into the prepared pot with at least 50mm of space between each individual seedling.

9. Positioning the orchid

The seedling once fully transplanted should be placed in a location that is warm with good indirect sun light.

Slowly position the pots into an area that closely assimilates the conditions it will be growing under.

The choice as to whether the plant should be exposed to full sun or in direct sunlight will be dependent on the particular orchid specie.

10. Subsequent care of the plant

After the first week, the seedling can be misted several times a day and watered just once a week.

Do not fertilize until the seedlings have fully established themselves.

Further Comments from Readers:

Geodorum densiflorum

Classification:

Unranked: Monocots

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class：Liliopsida

Sub Class：Liliidae

Order: Asparagales

Family: Orcidaceae

Subfamily: Epidendroideae

Tribe: Cymbidieae

Sub Tribe: Eulophiinae

Alliance: Dipodium

Genus: From Geos, which is Ancient Greek for the soil or ground and Dorum, which is Ancient Greek for a gift. It refers to flowers, which are a beautiful gift from the soil.

Specie: From Densus, which is Latin for packed close together and Flōris, which is Latin for a flower or Flōs, which is the Roman goddess of spring and flowers. It refers to flowers, which are densely packed along the spike.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Ground Nodding Orchid or Shepherd’s Crook.

Distribution:

Geodorum densiflorum is found from the southern and western coastal areas of King Sound to the south western areas of the Kimberley coast in north western, Western Australia.

It is also found along the northern coast of the Northern Territory east from Melville Bathurst Islands, the Daly River south of Darwin to north western Kakadu and east to Nuhlinbuy.

In the east it is found south from Cape York Peninsular, the Torres Straight Islands and Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria to Bundjalung National Park east of Grafton in far north eastern New South Wales. It is found east of the Great Dividing Range.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Geodorum+densiflorum#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Geodorum densiflorum prefers medium shade or dappled shade in dry Eucalyptus forests adjacent to rainforests, monsoonal forests, coastal wallum heaths or moist coastal woodland heaths. The altitude ranges from sea level to 700 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from 2 degrees in July to 34.degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 900mm to an average of 2800mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Geodorum densiflorum prefers sandy loams, to light fatty clays with thick layers of forest litter. The soils are derived from decomposed basalts, sandstones, shales or metamorphic rocks. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 7pH. It does not tolerate of water logged soils but often it is found growing close to and in association plants that prefer moist soils or high water tables. Non saline soils to slightly saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.6mm to 0.8m by 0.5m to 0.6m

Characteristics:

Geodorum densiflorum grows on pseudobulbs as a terrestrial orchid. The depressed globose pseudobulbs are usually half buried in the ground. The pseudobulbs measure 10mm to 13mm long by 10mm to 13mm in diameter. Leaves die back in winter and the plants become dormant over the cooler months.

The long ovate to lanceolate leaves are glabrous semi glossy or dull. The 3 to 5 leaves measure 150mm to 300mm in length by 40mm to 80mm in width. The petioles are clasping and are 20mm to 80mm in length. The concolourous laminas are pale green. The leaf margins are entire and are undulating. The laminas have 3 prominent longitudinal ribs and 4.prominent longitudinal veins.

The inflorescences of Geodorum densiflorum are on a long erect peduncle which recurves 180 degrees towards the apex. The recurve section has 8 to 20 flowers. The peduncles vary from 150mm to 300mm in length. The pedicles measure 5mm to 10mm in length including the 2mm to 3mm ovary which appears to be part of the pedicel but is slightly swollen. The sepals and petals are only slightly spreading when fully open curving forward from the ovary. It is oblong and measure 11mm to 18mm in length by 2.5mm to 5mm in width. The sepals and petals are entire with a mucronate apex and are pale pink to a mid-pink or mauve-pink in colour. The labellum measures 10mm to 15mm in length by 6mm to 8mm in width. The margins are entire while the apex is truncate with a mucronate tip. The labellum is mid pink to white with deep pink to purple striations. Flowering occurs during late November to early February.

The recurved peduncle becomes erect as the seed pods ripen. The seed pods measure 25mm to 30mm in length by 8mm to 10mm in width. It is cylindrical to elliptical in shape with 4.or 5 very prominent keels. The flowers are persistent and dry to a light pinkish yellow colour. Seed pods ripen to a light yellow olive green colour.

Wildlife:

Geodorum densiflorum is the host to numerous small native bees when in flower.

Cultivation:

Geodorum densiflorum is a beautiful orchid which is easy to grow and to propagate. They will look great planted in mass at the edge of a forest or in a sheltered area away from winds and excessive moisture. The shape and colour of the leaves is an instant attraction. Because of their dormancy you tend to forget about them in the winter but as soon as the new leaves appear a strong interest develops. For best results ensure the plants get dappled light throughout the day even some late afternoon or early morning sun is beneficial. The best time to fertilize the plants is on father’s day or as the first rains fall in spring. This will ensure good flowering and flowers of a maximum size. Plants require a good covering of natural mulch or leaf litter. If the seed is not required remove the spent flowers as the die.

Propagation:

Geodorum densiflorum seeds require treatment before sowing. Really Orchid seeds are meant for professionals with time, equipment and space. However if you wish to persevere then here are the basics and you are learning from an amateur. You will need the following, a flask, Chloros solution, boiled water, an eye dropper, paper bag, a warm sheltered position and a lot of patience and luck. This is an easy orchid to grow so is a good one for beginners to start with.

1.Collecting the seed: seed can only be collected from fully ripe pods. You may need to watch a pod for several days or even weeks following the time it stops swelling for it to turn olive yellow. At this stage the pod must be watched carefully for the pod to commence spitting along the placenta. If possible place the paper bag over the pod and tie it off. If necessary place a plastic bag over the paper bag to prevent rain or moisture contacting the seeds.

Knowledge is very important now, as different species and genre have various numbers of viable seed in a pod. Viable seeds may be as few as 20 or as many as several million. Check the bag daily and remove once the seed begins to disperse. Shake all the seeds from the pod into the bag.
Purchase the appropriate agar solution from an orchid society as they will know what you want and which one will be best for your species. Prepare the agar solution and pour into the flask.
Remove some of the seeds by shaking them into a solution of 1 part chloros to 20 parts water and allow soaking for 10 minutes.
Remove the seeds with the eye dropper in the solution and spread evenly over the set agar.
Place the flasks in a room that is will lit with indirect light and the temperature is a consistent 20 to 25 degrees centigrade.
Wait 4.to 7 months for the seedlings to develop to a stage where they can be removed and planted on into a fine orchid mix. Do not remove the seedlings from their environment of light or temperature for at least another two months. Even at this stage it is best to place the seedlings in a hot house where their environment can be controlled.

Mass plantings can be achieved with planting them at 150mm centers.

Fertilize using seaweed, fish emulsion or organic chicken pellets soaked in water on an alternate basis. Fertilize every month until the flower stems appear from late August to maintain health, vitality and better flowering.

Further Comments from Readers:

Geranium homeanum

Classification:

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magloliidae

Superorder: Rosannae

Order: Geraniales

Family: Geraniaceae

Genus: From Geranion, which is Ancient Greek for a crane’s bill. It refers to the flowers, which look similar to a crane’s bill.

Specie: Maybe is named in honour of the great Greek poet Homer.

Sub specie:

Common Name: In the Aboriginal language it is known as Wurundjeri.

Distribution:

Geranium homeanum is found south from Gladstone and the Calliope River in central coastal Queensland to the Glenelg Coastal Plain in south western Victoria. It is found on the Western slopes, on and east of the Great Dividing Range to the coast.

It is also found east of Eungella National park in Queensland and from Mount Wellington to Hobart in Tasmania.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Geranium+homeanum#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Geranium homeanum prefers full sun to light dappled shade. It grows on moister sites along riparian zones, adjacent to swamps and coastal wallums and open schlerophyll forests and adjacent to subtropical rainforests. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 1400 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 5 degrees in July to 40 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 600mm to an average of 2000mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Geranium homeanum prefers fertile sandy loams, to light clay loams or light silts to medium silts. The soils are derived from decomposed brown basalt, black basalt, sandstones, mudstone, granites, shale, metamorphic rocks, alluvial deposits or accumulated peaty beach sand flats behind the frontal dunes. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 5.5pH. It tolerates seasonal wet soils but does not grow in the water Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.1m to 0.2m by 1m to 1.5m.

Characteristics:

Geranium homeanum are decumbent annual or perennial herbs with slender pale blue-green to mid purplish or reddish stems. The terete stems are often densely branched and are densely covered in short, straight, white hirtellous and hirsute hairs. The white tap root is fleshy.

The opposite, 3 to 5 lobed palmatetisect leaves of Geranium homeanumare orbicular to reniform. The lobes are oblong to obovate and are divided to more than halfway to midrib often with 3 secondary lobes. The lobes measure 2mm to 5mm in length by 3mm to 6mm in width. The slender pale blue-green to mid purplish or reddish petioles measure 10mm to 50mm in length.

The petioles are densely covered in short, straight, white hirtellous and hirsute hairs. The bases are strongly cordate while the apexes are obtuse to broadly acute. The concolourous laminas are pale blue-green often with a purplish sheen; when growing on phosphate deficient soils, are sparsely to moderately covered in white, appressed hirsute hairs. The laminas are flat or recurve slightly upwards from the base to the lobe apexes. The mid vein and main lateral veins are prominent on the lower lamina and are visible from the upper lamina. The lobe margins are entire or toothed near the apexes.

The inflorescences of Geranium homeanum are usually born pairs on a single peduncle from the leaf axils. The peduncles and pedicels are mid green and glabrous to sparsely covered in white appressed hirsute hairs and 2 linear stipules at the base of the pedicels. The peduncles measure 18mm to 24mm in length while the pedicels measure 15mm to22mm in length.

The 5 obovate sepals are mid green and glabrous or sparsely covered in white appressed eglandular hairs with a few erect hairs externally and are glabrous internally. The apexes are obtuse with a long aristate tip. The sepals measure 2.5mm to 4mm in length not including the 1mm to 1.6mm aristate tip. The white or usually pink fading to pastel lavender or pastel lilac petals are glabrous with usually 3 violet longitudinal stripes. The obovate petals have a truncate or retuse apex and measure 4mm to 5.5mm in length by 2.8mm to 4.4mm in width.

The 10 white filiform filaments measure 1mm in length while the cream anthers have purple margins along where they dehisce. The creamy pastel green style has a white, pink or deep red-maroon 5 fid stigma and measures 1.5mm to 1.7mm in length while the stigma branches measure 0.7mm to 1mm in length. The flowers appear from October to February but in favourable areas may have odd flowers throughout the year.

Geranium homeanum fruits are usually cylindrical mericarps. The mericarps measure 11mm to 14mm in length by 2mm to 2.2mm in diameter. The pale green-blue mericarps are sparsely to moderately covered in white pulverulent hairs. The 2 short awns are covered in short, white eglandular hairs. The mericarps turn mid brown while the sepals remain green and persistent at the base of the ripe fruits. The isodiametric seeds are deep brown and densely covered in short pulverulent hairs. The mericarps split from the base remaining attached at the apex. The seeds are deep brown, rugose and sparsely covered in elongated aveolae.

Wildlife:

Geranium homeanum’s wildlife is unknown to the author however I know from my experiences in an organic orchard the growth rate was extraordinary where fortnightly slashing would see the plants grow 200mm to 300mm and flower throughout the summer months. It gave copious quantities of soft high nitrogenous mulch which was eagerly sought out by the ducks or mulched quickly.

The roots were collected and eaten after roasting by early aborigines.

Cultivation:

Geranium homeanum is considered a weed in the garden with its only virtue at this stage is it yields good quality mulch. This should change as the plants have exquisite beauty all of their own that is easy to control and manipulate.

While the exotic Geranium specie has stolen the limelight the native plants have gone mainly unrecognized. It would ideally suit for moist rockeries or bush gardens as the fill in plant between shrubs. In cultivation the plants will grow 100mm to 200mm in height by 600mm to 700mm in diameter provided it is trimmed to encourage full ground coverage. It offers quick growth with delicate little flowers within months from seed.

In formal Gardens it can be used as the fill in plants or as the main plant beside a water feature. Imagine a small pond with fish swimming beside it are several Geranium homeanum manicured contrasting white pebbles an old gnarled log sits beyond the pool and the scene is set. Cool formal inviting and colourful but not overpowering in reds and yellows. This is very powerful yet formal and relaxing. It can partially surround such a scene and still look effective.

Use them in small groups with larger rocks or in front of a large log. The large log gives a strong horizontal affect with depth if placed on an angle. Right along the front plant the Hybanthus specie. It can be mixed with purple flowered Hybanthus monopetalus with one of the yellow or orange flowering forms. The vertical stems and linear leaves will create a longer looking log that has greater diameter. The plants will dainty yet display a very relaxing and thought provoking scene.

Using plants with deep green, broad, simple leaves to the rear Geranium homeanum will draw attention to its prostrate, delicate, palmate, pale blue-green leaves in the foreground. Ensure that curves and bends are used to increase the contrasts and allow the plants to spread to their full potential. This is not a plant for mass planting but for contrast. 2 or 3 in an area can be magical in lifting the other plants around them.

Propagation:

Seeds: Sow fresh seeds or the previous season’s seeds after removing them from the refrigerator over winter into a seed raising mix. Place the trays beneath 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth and keep moist not wet. When the seedlings are 40mm to 60mm tall, prick them out, nip the tips out to encourage side shoots and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Once the seedlings reach 150mm to 200mm in height again nip the tips out and plant them out into their permanent position. Group plantings are best achieved by planting them at 600mm to 800mm centers.

Fertilize using Seaweed, fish emulsion or organic chicken pellets soaked in water and apply the liquid on an alternate basis. Fertilize every 3 to 4.months in areas where it flowers all year or twice annually in early September or March to maintain health, vitality and better flowering.

Cuttings:

Cuttings are easy and can be taken anytime of the year in frost free areas. Use stems from the previos seasons growth which have 2 or 3 pairs of nodes.

1 Prepare the cutting mix by adding one third sharp clean river sand, one third peat and one third perlite. These ingredients are sterilize,

2 Select good material from non diseased plants,

3 Select semi green stems for cuttings. Look for a stem with two or three nodes,

5 Fill a saucer with water. Dip the node end of the cutting into the water to clean it,

6 With a small dipple stick or old pencil to poke a hole into the soilless potting mix. Ensure the hole is slightly larger than the stem diameter and be careful not to wipe the rooting hormone off the cuttings base, place the cuttings in a pattern ensuring the cuttings are not touching each other,

8 When the cuttings have struck, open the bag to allow air circulation for a few days to a week,

9 Once hardened off remove the cuttings from the bag and allow to further hardening for a few more days,

10 Transplant into a good potting mix to grow on.

Further Comments from Readers:

Geranium neglectum

Classification:

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magloliidae

Superorder: Rosannae

Order: Geraniales

Family: Geraniaceae

Genus: From Geranion, which is Ancient Greek for a crane’s bill. It refers to the flowers, which look similar to a crane’s bill.

Specie: From Neglēctum/Neclēctum, which is Latin for to pay no attention to. It refers to the plants, which are often being over looked because they have no or few stand out qualities.

Sub specie:

Common Name:

Distribution:

Geranium neglectum is found south from Queen Mary falls in southern Queensland to the Bemm River, the Coombinbah River and the upper Rodger River in north eastern Victoria. It is found on the Western S

lopes, on and east of the Great Dividing Range to the coast.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Geranium+neglectum#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Geranium neglectum prefers full sun to light dappled shade. It grows on moister sites along riparian zones and adjacent to coastal and montane swamps and wallums in open woodlands and open forests. The altitude ranges from 10 meters ASL to 1000 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 3 degrees in July to 40 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 600mm to an average of 1400mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Geranium neglectum prefers better quality fertile sandy loams to light silty clay loams. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalt, black basalt, sandstones, mudstone, granite, shale and metamorphic rocks. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 5.5pH are preferred. It tolerates seasonal wet soils but does not grow in the water. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.1m to 0.2m by 2m to 2.5m.

Characteristics:

Geranium neglectum grows as a decumbent perennial herb with slender pale blue-green to mid purplish or reddish stems. The terete stems are often densely branched and are densely covered in short, white appressed, hirsute hairs. The white tap root is short and fleshy.

The opposite, 5 to 7 lobed palmatetisect leaves of Geranium neglectum are orbicular to reniform. The lobes are obovate to oblong and are further divided into 2 to 5 mucronate lobes. The lobes measure 1mm to 3mm in length by 2.5mm to 5.5mm in width. The slender pale blue-green petioles measure 25mm to 70mm in length.

The bases are cordate to peltate while the lobes apexes are obtuse. The discolourous laminas are pale blue-green often with a purplish sheen; when growing on phosphate deficient soils, are sparsely to moderately covered in white, appressed hirtellous and pubescent hairs on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are paler. The laminas are flat while the mid vein and main lateral veins are slightly prominent on the lower lamina and are visible from the upper lamina. The lobe margins are entire.

The inflorescences of Geranium neglectum are usually born solitary on a single peduncle from the leaf axils. The pedicels are mid green and glabrous to sparsely covered in white appressed hirsute hairs with 2 small stipules ate the base and another 2 minute linear stipules about 15mm to 20mm below the sepals. The pedicels measure 70mm to 150mm in length.

The 5 obovate sepals are mid green and covered in white, red tipped eglandular hairs externally and are glabrous internally. The apexes are acute with a long aristate tip. The sepals measure 6mm to 10mm in length not including the 3.5mm to 4.5mm aristate tip. The petals are white or usually deep pink fading to pale pink or white near the base. The petals fade to pastel pink during the day and are glabrous with usually 3 violet or deep pink longitudinal stripes which fork near the apexes. The obovate petals have a truncate or wide shallow retuse apex and measure 13mm to 15mm in length by 11mm to 13mm in width.

The 10 dimorphic, white filaments measure 4mm to 7mm in length while the deep purple anthers dehisce to release the cream pollen. The pale green style has a yellow 5 fid stigma and measures 5mm to 6.5mm in length while the stigma branches measure 2mm to 3mm in length. The flowers appear from November to February.

Geranium neglectum fruits are usually cylindrical mericarps. The mericarps measure 15mm to 19mm in length by 2.5mm to 3.5mm in diameter. The pale green-blue mericarps are sparsely to moderately covered in short, white hirtellous hairs. The awns are covered in short, white eglandular hairs. The mericarps turn mid brown while the sepals remain green and persistent at the base of the ripe fruits. The isodiametric seeds are deep brown and densely covered in short pubescent hairs. The mericarps split from the base remaining attached at the apex. The seeds are deep brown and sparsely covered in aveolae.

Wildlife:

Geranium neglectum’s wildlife is unknown to the author however I know from my experiences in an organic orchard the growth rate was extraordinary where fortnightly slashing would see the plants grow half a meter and flower throughout the summer months. They gave copious quantities of soft high nitrogenous mulch which was eagerly sought out by the ducks or mulched quickly.

Cultivation:

Geranium neglectum is considered a weed in the garden with its only virtue at this stage is it yields good quality mulch. This should change as the plants have exquisite beauty all of their own that is easy to control and manipulate.

While the exotic Geranium specie has stolen the limelight the native plants have gone mainly unrecognized. It would ideally suit moist rockeries or bush gardens as the fill in plant between shrubs.

This is not usually a plant for mass planting but for contrast but imagine stepping out onto a path and there in front of you is a long narrow bed or embankment bare and ugly. Now let’s add 18 to 25 Geranium neglectum lying prostrate along the front densely covering the bed with Eragrostis parviflora giving height and elegance in the background against the wall or leading into a bush scene. The heads of delicate flowers wafting in the breeze enticing you to look beyond the path and into the bush but you are transfixed on this beautiful contrasting display. It is because of their vertical open spindly nature with long pendulant panicles that you stop and look twice contrasting the dense matting in the foreground. For something bulkier and heavier Lomandra hystrix or for an intermediate scene one of the Baumea like Baumea juncea has the ideal culms and the rigid erect growth for the perfect contrast.

Using plants with deep green, broad, simple leaves to the rear Geranium neglectum will draw attention to its prostrate, delicate, palmate, pale blue-green leaves in the foreground. Ensure that curves and bends are used to increase the contrasts and allow the plants to spread to their full potential.

2 or 3 in an area can be magical in lifting the other plants around them. In cultivation the plants will grow 100mm to 200mm in height by 600mm to 700mm in diameter provided it is trimmed to encourage full ground coverage. It offers quick growth with delicate little flowers within months from seed.

Propagation:

Seeds: Sow fresh seeds or the previous season’s seeds of Geranium neglectum after removing them from the refrigerator over winter into a seed raising mix. Place the trays beneath 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth and keep moist not wet. When the seedlings are 40mm to 60mm tall, prick them out, nip the tips out to encourage side shoots and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Fertilize using Seaweed, fish emulsion or organic chicken pellets soaked in water and apply the liquid on an alternate basis. Fertilize every 3 months in areas where they flower all year or in spring and mid-summer where it flowers during the warmer months of spring to autumn.

Cuttings:

Cuttings are easy and can be taken anytime of the year in frost free areas. Use stems from the previos seasons growth which have 2 or 3 pairs of nodes.

1 Prepare the cutting mix by adding one third sharp clean river sand, one third peat and one third perlite. These ingredients are sterilize,

2 Select good material from non diseased plants,

3 Select semi green stems for cuttings. Look for a stem with two or three nodes,

5 Fill a saucer with water. Dip the node end of the cutting into the water to clean it,

8 When the cuttings have struck, open the bag to allow air circulation for a few days to a week,

9 Once hardened off remove the cuttings from the bag and allow to further hardening for a few more days,

10 Transplant into a good potting mix to grow on.

Further Comments from Readers:

Geranium solanderi

Classification:

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magloliidae

Superorder: Rosannae

Order: Geraniales

Family: Geraniaceae

Genus: From Geranion, which is Ancient Greek for a crane’s bill. It refers to the flowers, which look similar to a crane’s bill.

Specie: Is named in honour of Daniel Carlsson Solander; 1733–1782, who was a Swedish naturalist and an Apostle of Carl Linnaeus. Solander was the first university educated scientist to set foot on Australian soil at Botany Bay with Sir Joseph banks and suggested the name of the bay as Botanist Bay.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Australian Cranes Beak.

Distribution:

Geranium solanderi is found south and west in a line from Dandaragan to Albany in the south west and east from Observatory Island and Frasers Range to Cape Arid National Park in southern coastal Western Australia.

In the east it is found south and east of a line from Maryborough, Kroombit Tableland, Carnarvon National Park and Cunnamulla in Queensland to Narrabri and Cobar in New South Wales then to Daylesford in Victoria then west to Cliffs at Big End, Oulnina Park, Mawson Plateau and Streaky Bay in southern South Australia. There are several isolated populations that indicate this species may be more wide spread than the map and description indicates. These include Watraba in South Australia and Credit Forest Reserve and Malanda in Queensland.

It is also found on all the Bass Straight Islands and most the mainland of Tasmania.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Geranium+solanderi#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Geranium solanderi prefers full sun to light dappled shade. It grows in moist open woodlands and drier wallum margins. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 1300 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 4.degrees in July to 42 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 150mm to an average of 2800mm annually.

Soil Requirements:

Geranium solanderi prefers better quality fertile sandy loams, to light silty clay loams and alluvial flats. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalt, black basalt, sandstones, granite, mudstone, shale and metamorphic rocks as well as alluvial slits or accumulated peaty beach sands. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 7.5pH. It tolerates seasonal wet soils but does not grow in the water. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.05m to 0.1m by 0.8m to 1m.

Characteristics:

Geranium solanderi grows as a decumbent perennial herb with slender pale blue-green to mid purplish or reddish stems. The terete stems are often densely branched and are densely covered in course, white hirsute hairs. The white tap root is napiform, that is short and round like a beetroot.

The opposite, 5 to 7 lobed palmatetisect leaves of Geranium solanderiare orbicular to reniform and measure 10mm to 30mm in length by 15mm to 50mm in width. The 5 to 7 obovate lobes are further divided into 2 to 5 smaller lobes or teeth on the apical half. The lobes measure 1mm to 3mm in length by 2.5mm to 5.5mm in width. The stipules are narrow triangular and lacinate. The slender pale blue-green petioles are sparsely covered in white appressed and erect hirsute hairs and measure 15mm to 40mm in length.

The bases are cordate while the lobes apexes are obtuse or rarely broad acute. The concolourous laminas are pale blue-green to mid blue-green often with a purplish sheen; when growing on phosphate deficient soils, are sparsely to moderately covered in white, appressed and erect hirsute hairs on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are glabrous to sparsely covered in white appressed white hairs. The laminas are flat or slightly decurve on the apical half. The mid vein and main lateral veins are slightly prominent on the lower lamina and are visible from the upper lamina. The lobe margins are entire.

The inflorescences are usually born in pairs or rarely solitary on a single peduncle from the leaf axils. The peduncles and pedicels are mid green and sparsely to densely covered in white appressed or semi appressed hirsute hairs. There are 2 small stipules at the base and another 2 triangular stipules about 2.5mm to 15mm below the sepals. The peduncles measure 6mm to 40mm in length while the pedicels measure 6mm to 50mm in length.

The 5 elliptical sepals are mid green and glabrous to sparsely covered in short eglandular hairs, with long dense covering of white ciliate hairs along the margins. The apexes are acute with a long aristate tip. The sepals measure 4mm to 10mm in length not including the 1mm to 3.5mm aristate tip. The petals are deep pink, usually with 3 deeper pink or yellowish-green longitudinal stripes on the basal half. The oblong petals have a truncate or wide shallow retuse apex and measure 5mm to 12mm in length by 3mm to 10mm in width.

The 10 white filaments measure 5mm to 9mm in length while the creamy-yellow anthers dehisce to release the creamy-yellow pollen. The pale green style has a pale yellow, 5 fid, clavate, narrow spathulate or linear stigma and measures 6mm to 10mm in length while the stigma branches measure 1.2mm to 2mm in length. The flowers appear from October to May in the southern plants or alpine plants while those in the northern warmer areas may flower all year with a peak from late July to late November. The northern plants have larger flowers than those growing in cooler southern areas.

Geranium solanderi fruits are usually cylindrical mericarps. The mericarps measure 10mm to 25mm in length by 3mm to 4.5mm in diameter. The pale green-blue mericarps are moderately covered in, white pubescent hairs which are longest near the base and shortest near the apex. The awns are covered in short, white eglandular hairs. The mericarps turn mid brown while the sepals remain green and persistent at the base of the ripe fruits. The isodiametric seeds are deep brown and densely covered in short pulverulent hairs. The mericarps split from the base remaining attached at the apex. The large, rugose seeds measure 4.5mm to 5mm in length by 2.2mm to 2.5mm in diameter.

Wildlife:

Geranium solanderi’s wildlife is unknown to the author.

Cultivation:

Geranium solanderi is considered a weed in the garden with its only virtue at this stage is it yields good quality mulch. This should change as the plants have exquisite beauty all of their own that is easy to control and manipulate.

While the exotic Geranium specie has stolen the limelight, our native plants have gone mainly unrecognized. It would ideally suit moist rockeries or bush gardens as fill in plants between shrubs of different heights.

Using plants with deep green, broad, simple leaves to the rear or midground Geranium solanderi will draw attention to its prostrate, delicate, palmate, pale blue-green leaves in the foreground. Ensure that curves and bends are used to increase the contrasts and allow the plants to spread to their full potential.

2 or 3 in an area can be magical in lifting the other plants around them. In cultivation the plants will grow 50mm to 80mm in height by 300mm to 400mm in diameter provided it is trimmed to encourage full ground coverage. It offers quick growth with delicate large flowers within months from seed.

Another method would be to mass plant them amongst upright annuals for year round colour. It would not matter if the annuals flowering clashed at the same time as there leaves would break the bright colours and give texture to the bed. Once the annuals have ceased flowering the bed is not completely barren and bare and offers that transitional piece of greenery.

Propagation:

Seeds: Sow fresh seeds or the previous season’s seeds of Geranium solanderi after removing them from the refrigerator over winter into a seed raising mix. Place the trays beneath 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth and keep moist not wet. When the seedlings are 40mm to 60mm tall, prick them out, nip the tips out to encourage side shoots and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Cuttings:

Cuttings are easy and can be taken anytime of the year in frost free areas. Use stems from the previos seasons growth which have 2 or 3 pairs of nodes.

1 Prepare the cutting mix by adding one third sharp clean river sand, one third peat and one third perlite. These ingredients are sterilize,

2 Select good material from non diseased plants,

3 Select semi green stems for cuttings. Look for a stem with two or three nodes,

5 Fill a saucer with water. Dip the node end of the cutting into the water to clean it,

8 When the cuttings have struck, open the bag to allow air circulation for a few days to a week,

9 Once hardened off remove the cuttings from the bag and allow to further hardening for a few more days,

10 Transplant into a good potting mix to grow on.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gingidia rupicola

Classification:

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magloliidae

Superorder: Rosannae

Order: Geraniales

Family: Apiaceae

Genus: From Gingídion, which is Ancient Greek for a small Syrian plant Daucus gingidium. It refers to the close resemblance of the plant to the Syrian plant.

Specie: From Rūpēs, which is Latin for a cliff or rocky and Cola which is Latin for to dwell or reside at. It refers to plants, which occur naturally on cliff faces or rocky terrain.

Sub specie:

Common Name:

Distribution:

Gingidia rupicola is only known from 2 small populations in the Ebor and the New England National Park in north eastern New South Wales.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gingidia+rupicola#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gingidia rupicola prefers light dappled shade to dense shade. It grows in moist closed temperate rainforest. The altitude ranges from 1400 meters ASL to 1500 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 6 degrees in July to 34 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 800mm to an average of 1080mm annually. Orographic precipitation would contribute substantially to the soil moisture and humidity where the plants grow.

Soil Requirements:

Gingidia rupicola prefers better quality fertile pockets within boulders and along cliff faces. The soils are derived from decomposing granite. The soils pH ranges from 6.5pH to 7pH. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.25m to 0.5m by 0.2m to 0.5m.

Characteristics:

Gingidia rupicola grows as a herbaceous perennial to 50 cm tall, with a thick fleshy rootstock and erect stems.

The leaves form rosettes of 6to 10 individual leaves. The imparipinnate leaves measure 150mm to 350mm in length, while the leaflets have 1 to 4 pairs often overlapping with the terminal pinnule often trilobed. The subcoriaceous, discolourous, upper laminas are a soft grey-green, while the lower laminas are glaucous. The terete petiole has a shallow channel on the upper surface and measures 4.5mm to 23.5mm in length. The bases sheath the short stem and have a short marginal wing. The cauline leaves measure 90mm in length and have 1 to 3 pairs of leaflets.

There are 1 to 6 auxillary inflorescences on each plant bearing a terminal compound umbel and 1 to 3 lateral compound umbels, which measure 60mm to 110mm in length. There are 5 involucral bracts with 6 to 11 primary rays. The simple umbels bear 10 to 14 individual flowers.

The narrow elliptic or narrow ovate fruits are mericarps, which measure 6.8mm to 7.6mm in length by 1.8mm to 2.3mm in width. The fruits turn grey-brown when ripe. The bases are rounded, while the dorsal surface is convex with 5 ribs and 2 lateral ribs with wings that measure 0.4mm to 0.6mm in width. The ventral surface is flat, carpophore and measures 4.5mm to 6.8mm in length.

Wildlife:

Gingidia rupicola’s wildlife is unknown to the author.

Cultivation:

Gingidia rupicola would be considered a valuable addition to any rockery garden. It would ideally suit moist rockeries or bush gardens as fill in plants between boulders.

To extract its real potential it would be best planted with no other competition in the immediate vicinity.

2 or 3 in an area would be magical in highlighting the crevices between rocks.

Propagation:

Seeds: All plants declared vulnerable or endangered are protected by Federal and State Laws and must not be removed from the wild unless you are a land developer, mining company or main Roads department etc. This includes bulbs, roots, leaves, seeds and flowers. No part of any plant can be removed from Federal, State or Local Government land without the prior permission of the authority and this includes the spore.

Sow fresh seeds or the previous season’s seeds of Gingidia rupicola after removing them from the refrigerator over winter into a seed raising mix. Place the trays beneath 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth and keep moist not wet. When the seedlings are 40mm to 60mm tall, prick them out, nip the tips out to encourage side shoots and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gleichenia dicarpa

Classification:

Division: Pteridophyta

Class: Pteridospida

Order: Gleicheniales

Family: Gleicheniacea

Genus: Is named in honour of Baron von Gleichen; 1717-1783, who was a German botanist. He discovered the method of staining microorganisms with blue indigo or carmine.

Specie: From Di/Dis which are Ancient Greek for two and Karpós, which is Ancient Greek for a fruit. It refers to plants, which have two fruits per axis.

Sub specie:

Common Name:

Distribution:

Gleichenia dicarpa is found south from Fraser Island in southern coastal Queensland to Nambucca Heads in northern coastal New South Wales. It is found on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range to the coast.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gleichenia+dicarpa#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gleichenia dicarpa grows in light shade, dappled light to full sun. It is found in moisture retentive soils in littoral rainforests, stream banks, wallums or road side drainage lines, swamps on cliffs where seepages exist and around waterfalls close to the coast. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 800 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from 1 degree in August to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 900mm to 1800mm average per annum though this is of little importance as permanent water by way of seepages, sprays and a high water table with good capillary action is a far more reliable and important source.

Soil Requirements:

Gleichenia dicarpa prefers fertile fine sands, sandy loams, to light clays. The soils are usually derived from decomposed sandstone, granites, basalts, accumulated sands or alluvial deposits. The soils pH ranges from 4.pH to 7pH. It tolerates water logged soils and seasonal high water tables where the water comes to the surface. It often grows in acid water associated with iron oxide bacteria. (See article on Fungus and Bacteria) Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 500mm to 2000mm by 650mm to several hundred square meters under favourable conditions.

Characteristics:

Gleichenia dicarpa grows as a large fern with long, thin, creeping rhizomes that are covered in fine, appressed, dark brown scales. The scales are soon lost leaving the rachis and rhizomes glabrous. The rhizome measures 2.5mm to 4mm in diameter.

Gleichenia dicarpa’s dimorphic fronds divide once to three times. The rachis measures 500mm to 2000mm in length with the stipe measuring 120mm to 400mm in length. The stipe is pale to deep brown and covered in pale to deep brown, dull off white stellate hairs and scales. The alternate pinnules are pouched like and measure 1mm to 1.5mm in diameter. The discolourous laminas are deep sea green on the upper lamina while the lower lamina is paler. The bases are truncated sessile while the apexes are obtuse. The margin is finely toothed or entire. The rachis is covered in deep red-brown stellate hairs. The sori number 2 per pinnae.

Confusing Species:

Gleichenia dicarpa: Sori mostly consisting of only 2 sporangia inside the recurved pinnules.

Gleichenia mendellii: Sori usually with 2 to 4.sporangia. Indusium absent. Dense stellate hairs on rachis.

Gleichenia microphylla: Sori usually consisting of 3 or 4.sporangia to one side on the basal half of the pinnules.

Gleichenia rupestris: Sori usually consisting of 3 or 4.sporangia. Hairs absent from the rachis.

Wildlife:

Gleichenia dicarpa’s wildlife is unknown to the author.

Cultivation:

Gleichenia dicarpa is a beautiful fern for courtyards, around swimming pools or in the garden where moist lighter conditions prevail. Gleichenia mendellii is an excellent choice for around large fish ponds and pools where it can grow to its full potential. It breaks up hard fences and walls giving a pleasant vertical look. If used correctly it can make medium size areas look larger. Some cleaning of spent fronds on a biannual base is necessary and moisture is required to keep it at its best. When planted in mass give a natural wild look.

It often reaches its full potential of 1500mm in just over 2 years. The problem being it is a most difficult genus to grow from spore and just as difficult to grow small plants on. It took us a long time to establish a wild plant in our nursery to use for spore despite all the right conditions being offered. Many failures later we found that a large plant removed from a construction site was our only success and it took ages to re-establish itself.

Propagation:

Spores:

All ferns that are declared rare, vulnerable or endangered are protected by Federal and State Laws and must not be removed from the wild unless you are a land developer, mining company or main Roads department etc. This includes bulbs, roots, leaves and flowers. No part of any plant can be removed from Federal, State or Local Government land without the prior permission of the authority and this includes the spore.

Most people are put off at the thought of growing ferns from spore. Like all plants that produce their offspring from seed or spore the methods are basically the same. Remember nature has been doing this for millions of years and has been very successful. I have had excellent results growing over 200 different species of Australian ferns so don’t be afraid. Give it a go.

Step 1. Select spore from the fern fronds. Wait until the fern is just starting to release its spore. Rinse the fronds under clean running water and dry. This is to wash off any other spores from rogue ferns that may have settled onto the fronds. (There is nothing worse than having common brake or common soft bracken contaminating a prized tree fern or epiphyte.)

Step 2. Place the dry fronds in a clean brown paper bag and keep them in a cool dark place like the linen closet for about a week to ten days before you are ready to sow the spore. The exception to this rule applies to ferns, which produce green spores. These must be sown immediately that it is released. Todea Barbara is a good example of a fern, which produces green spore.

Step 3. Take a large ice cream container, a small ice cream container and a clean clear plastic bag large enough to seal the large ice cream container and three or four milk bottle tops.

Step 4. Punch or drill 6 to 10 5mm holes in the bottom of the small ice cream container.

Step 5. Wash both containers, tops and plastic bag so that it is very clean and sterile.

Step 6. Use a clean fine seed raising mi. We used 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} fine sand, 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} peat and 30{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} perlite and 10{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} vermiculite. We used crushed basalt, crusher dust and peat in a 50:50 ratio for epiphytes. Moisten the mix enough that water does not run out when the mix is squeezed between the fingers.

Step 7. Place the moisten mix (Enough to half fill the small ice cream container) in the microwave oven with a large glass of water for 7 or 8 minutes, until the water is boiling. Allow them to cool in the oven. You will need the water later so do not tip it out.

Step 8. Take the brown paper bag out of the linen closet. Shake the bag and remove the fronds. You should have a yellow, brown, black or rarely greenish brown or ochre powder or very fine, small round pin head size spore depending on the specie involved.

Step 9. Remove the mixture from the oven once it has cooled and place it in the small ice cream container and level.

Step 10. Sprinkle the spore sparsely over the mixture in the small ice cream container.

Step 11. Place the milk bottle tops in the large ice cream container with the flat surface facing down. Place the small ice cream container in the large ice cream container so that it is sitting on the milk bottle tops.

Step 12. Remove the water from the microwave and pour it into the larger ice cream container so there is 25mm to 30mm of water in the bottom.

Step 13. Place the ice cream containers in the plastic bag and seal.

Step 14. Place the contents and bag in a warm shady place preferably 50{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} to 70{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade depending on the specie. Shade houses and some window sills are ideal.

Step 15. The surface should turn green within a week to two weeks. The prothallus will then develop. From the prthalus the first true fronds will appear. Wait until the ferns are 20mm to 35mm in height before you attempt to transplant them. Once it is ready open the bag up slightly and allow the air to flow around the little ferns. Every 3 to 5 days open the bag a little further so the ferns get use to their new environment. Allow them a week to two weeks to harden off before you transplant them following the removal of the plastic bag. Carefully prick them out into 50mm standard squat tubes as you would any seedling.

Do not try to transplant them as single plants as it is still a little delicate still.

Once the smaller ones again reach 50mm to 70mm you may wish to divide the stronger and hardier individual plants into smaller clumps in 100mm squat pots.

Step 16. We fertilized with seaweed, fish emulsion or organic chicken pellets soaked in water on an alternate basis until established. Fertilize every two months for one year even when in the ground.

Further Comments from Readers:

Gleichenia mendellii

Classification:

Division: Pteridophyta

Class: Pteridospida

Order: Gleicheniales

Family: Gleicheniacea

Genus: Is named in honour of Baron von Gleichen; 1717-1783, who was a German botanist. He discovered the method of staining microorganisms with blue indigo or carmine.

Specie: Is named in honour of Gregor Johann Mandell; 1822–1884.who was an Austrian monk and botanist who discovered the science of genetics supported by his experiments on green peas, which was published but remained unrecognised until the early 1900’s.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Soft Water fern or Gristle Fern.

Distribution:

Gleichenia mendellii is found south from Fraser Island in southern coastal Queensland to Nambucca Heads in northern coastal New South Wales. It is found on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range to the coast.

https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Gleichenia+mendellii#tab_mapView

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Gleichenia mendellii grows in light shade, dappled light to full sun. It is found in moisture retentive soils in littoral rainforests, stream banks, wallums or road side drainage lines, swamps on cliffs where seepages exist or around waterfalls close to the coast. The altitude ranges from 5 meters ASL to 800 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from 1 degree in August to 36 degrees in January.

Soil Requirements:

Gleichenia mendellii prefers fertile fine sands, sandy loams, to light clays. The soils are usually derived from decomposed accumulated sands or alluvial deposits. The soils pH ranges from 4.pH to 7pH. It tolerates water logged soils and seasonal high water tables where the water comes to the surface. It often grows in acid water associated with iron oxide bacteria. (See article on Fungus and Bacteria) Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 500mm to 1000mm by 650mm to several hundred square meters under favourable conditions.

Characteristics:

Gleichenia mendellii grows as a large fern with long thin creeping rhizome is covered in fine, appressed, dark brown scales. The scales are soon lost leaving the rachis and rhizomes glabrous. The rhizome measures 2.5mm to 4mm in diameter.

Gleichenia mendellii’s dimorphic fronds divide once to three times. The rachis measures 500mm to 1000mm in length with the stipe measuring 120mm to 400mm in length. The stipe is pale to deep brown and covered in pale to deep brown, dull off white stellate hairs and scales. The alternate pinnules number 25 to 35 pairs and measure 1mm to 1.5mm in diameter. The discolourous laminas are deep sea green while the lower lamina is white. The base is truncated sessile while the apex is obtuse. The margin is finely toothed or entire. The rachis is covered in deep red-brown stellate hairs. The sori number 2 to 4.

Confusing Species Varieties:

Gleichenia mendellii: Sori usually with 2 to 4 sporangia. Indusium absent. Dense stellate hairs on rachis.

Gleichenia microphylla: Sori usually consisting of 3 or 4.sporangia to one side on the basal half of the pinnules.

Gleichenia dicarpa: Sori mostly consisting of only 2 sporangia inside the recurved pinnules.

Gleichenia rupestris: Sori usually consisting of 3 or 4 sporangia. Hairs absent from the rachis.

Wildlife:

Gleichenia mendellii’s wildlife is unknown to the author.

Cultivation:

Gleichenia mendellii is a beautiful fern for courtyards, around swimming pools or in the garden where moist lighter conditions prevail. Gleichenia mendellii is an excellent choice for around large fish ponds and pools where it can grow to its full potential. It breaks up hard fences and walls giving a pleasant vertical look. If used correctly it can make medium size areas look larger. Some cleaning of spent fronds on a biannual base is necessary and moisture is required to keep it at its best. When planted in mass give a natural wild look.

Propagation:

Spores: