Plant Descriptions – Polyosma cunninghamii – Prumnopitys ladei

Polyosma cunninghamii

Classification:

Class: Equisetopsida

Subclass: Magnoliidae

Superorder: Asteranae

Order: Escalloniales

Family: Escalloniaceae

Genus: From Polús, which is Ancient Greek for many and Osme, which is Ancient Greek for beautiful scent. It refers to flowers, which emit distinctly different beautiful scents.

Specie: Is named in honour of Allan Cunningham; 1791-1839, who was an Australian explorer, botanist and collector of plants.

Sub species:

Common Name: Featherwood

Distribution:

Polyosma cunninghamii is found south from Kilkivin in south eastern Queensland to Musgrave Creek south of Ulladulla in south eastern New South Wales. It is mainly found on and east of the Great Dividing Range to the coast.

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

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Polyosma cunninghamii prefers light dappled shade to full shade. It grows in and adjacent to cool subtropical rainforests, warm temperate rainforests or closed moist Eucalyptus forests. The altitude ranges from 30 meters to 1150 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 2 degrees in August to 38 degrees in January.

The rainfalls range from lows of 800mm to an average of 2000mm.

Soil Requirements:

Polyosma cunninghamii prefers to grow on better quality light stony clays to medium clays often with copious quantities of leaf litter. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalts, black basalts, metamorphic rocks or heavier fine sandstones. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 6.5pH. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 10m to 16m by 7m to 4m.

Characteristics:

Polyosma cunninghamii grows as a large, bushy shrub or small tree. The trunk and larger branches are pale brown to mid brown, wrinkled with small vertical ridges. The younger stems are grass-green and are sparsely to densely covered in white, appressed, hirsute or sericeous hairs.

Polyosma cunninghamii’s opposite, oblanceolate to elliptic, leaves measure 30mm to 90mm in length by 10mm to 30mm in width. The petioles measure 6mm to 20mm in length. The bases are cuneate while the apexes are acuminate to acute. The discolourous laminas are pale grass-green to mid grass-green glabrous and glossy on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are paler and dull. The laminas are soft, chartaceous flat or recurve upwards from the mid vein to the margins and decurve downwards on the apical third. The margins are irregularly toothed with teeth ending in a callus point and undulate between the teeth. The mid vein and lateral veins are prominent on the lower lamina and are visible on the upper lamina. The reticulated venation is more distinct on lower surface but not necessarily prominent.

The infloresecence are racemes born from the leaf axils. The racemes measure 20mm to 70mm in length. The pedicels are glabrous to sparsely covered in white sericeous hairs and measure 5mm to 6mm in length. There are 2 small bracteoles below each flower. The calyxes are grass-green and measure 1mm to 2mm in length including the minute lobes. The greenish, greenish-yellow or at times white tubular corollas measure 8mm to 10mm in length by 2mm to 2.5mm in diameter. The 4 oblong lobes have acute apexes and are reflexed at the time of anthesis. The lobes measure 2mm to 2.5mm in length.

The stamens are inserted. The pale yellow exserted style measures 9mm to 12mm in length. The sweetly scented flowers appear from March to November.

The fruits are ovoidal berries. The berries measure 12mm to 20mm in length by 7mm to 10mm in diameter. The faintly ribbed grass-green berries turn deep purple-black when ripe.

The fruits mature from March to August however some fruit may be found on the trees at most times of the year.

Wildlife:

Polyosma cunninghamii’s fruits eaten by various birds including the Green catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris‎ and the Rose Crown Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus regina.

Cultivation:

Polyosma cunninghamii is a beautiful specimen tree for small areas or for the suburban rainforest garden. It always looks fresh because of its bright green glossy foliage. It does best where a little water is added during the dry season or ground moisture is retained at an even content throughout the year. It is most suitable for small, medium and large gardens in the mountainous locations in warm frost free temperate or sub-tropical gardens. The perfume from the flowers lingers and is similar to the exotic Chinese Ozomanthus.

It is great in small open areas when used as an accent tree. Here it can be planted in small groups of 2 or 3 or as a standalone plant.

The trees would make excellent accent trees in front of low set commercial buildings, industrial sheds or school classrooms where it will break up hard rigid architectural lines and give warmth and breadth to a building. Its only drawback is that it is moderately slow in growth. In front of high rise buildings it gives balance.

The trees are useful for the attachment of epiphytic orchids and ferns. It can be used as a patio tree in large urns or indoors in well-lit areas of the home away from central heating.

Propagation:

Seeds:

Polyosma cunninghamii seeds can be sown directly into a deep seed raising mix. Place seeds onto the mix and press into the surface. Place the trays beneath 20{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} shade cloth and keep moist not wet. When the seedlings are 20mm to 25mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

As the seedlings roots reach the bottom of the tubes nip the tips out and plant them out into their permanent position. Keep seedlings moist and allow them to dry out between watering until established.

Fertilize using Seaweed, fish emulsion or organic chicken pellets soaked in water and apply the liquid on an alternate basis. Fertilize every 2 months until the plants commence flowering to maintain health, vigour and better flowering.

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 and March to maintain better colour, health, vitality and flowering

Further Comments from Readers:

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Polyscias elegans

Classification:

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Asterids

Order: Apiales

Family: Araliaceae

Genus: From Polús, which is Ancient Greek for many and Scias, which is Ancient Greek for shade or an umbrella. It refers to the flowers, which form in many umbels.

Specie: From ēlegāns, which is Latin for fine, elegant, handsome and tasteful. It refers to the overall appearance of plants, which are neat and good looking.

Sub specie:

Common Name: Celerywood or Silver Basswood or Black Pencil Cedar.

Distribution:

Polyscias elegans is found south from Cape York Peninsular in far North Queensland to Morton National Park in southern coastal New South Wales It is found on the Western Slopes on and east of the Great Dividing Range.

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

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Polyscias elegans prefers dappled shade to full sun. It grows in openings and adjacent to warm well developed dry rainforests, littoral rainforests, drier gallery forests and sheltered seasonal monsoonal forests. The altitude ranges from 50 meters ASL to 1000 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 2 degrees in July to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 600mm to 3200mm average per annum.

Soil Requirements:

Polyscias elegans prefers better quality light fatty clays to medium clays with a high proportion of gravel and forest litter. The soils are derived from decomposed black basalts, brown basalts, metamorphic rocks or at times granites or accumulated peaty beach sands. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 6.5pH. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants:20m to 30m by 10m to 18m

Characteristics:

The trunk is tall, straight, pale grey, scabrous and usually covered in blue-green lichens and especially mosses in cooler moist terrains. The stems are thin pale grey becoming pale green-brown to pale grey-green only near the apex with newer leaf growth. The branchlets are covered in rhomboidal scars of discarded leaves.

The clustered leaves of Polyscias elegans are bipinnate. The rachis, petiolules and petiole are all circular in cross section with the rachis being somewhat rhomboidal and spreading widely where it attaches to the branchlets. The rachis measures 800mm to 1000mm in length while the 5 to 7 pairs of opposite petiolules measure 75mm to 130mm in length. The odd pinnate leaflets are opposite on petiolules which measure 3mm to 5mm in length while the terminal petiolule measures 5mm to 12mm in length.

The 3 to 11 ovate to elliptical leaflets measure 60mm to 120mm in length by 30mm to 65mm in width. The bases are very broadly cuneate to rounded while the apexes are acuminate. The concolourous laminas are grass-green, semi glossy on the upper lamina while the lower lamina is dull. The new shoots are sparsely covered in pale brown to white branched hirsute hairs. The leaf margins are entire, flat and curve slightly upwards from the mid vein to the margins and downwards near the apex. The mid vein is prominent on the upper lamina. The leaves have a mild yet distinct celery odour when crushed.

Leaves on the flowering rachis are smaller with only 1 pinnate.

Inflorescences of Polyscias elegans are born in large, loose terminal panicle which branch 1 to 3 times. The solitary flowers are arranged race Mosely on the peduncules. The pedicels measure 1.5mm to 2.5mm and are densely covered in white scales. The urceolate calyx is deep purple- burgundy and covered in white scales. The calyxes have 5 to 7 faint longitudinal ribs. The 5 deep elliptical, deep purple-burgundy lobes measure 3mm to 3.5mm in length. The acute apexes of the lobes recurve like the bow of a boat.

The 5 exserted greenish burgundy thick filaments measure 2mm to 2.2mm in length while the pale green anthers measure 2mm to 2.2mm in length. The pollen is creamy yellow.

The deep purple-burgundy styles are glabrous and measure 0.4mm to 0.6mm in length while the stigma is free and diverge following anthesis. The ovaries are 2 locular. Polyscias elegans’s honey scented flowers appear from April to August.

Polyscias elegans’s fruits are laterally compressed, globose berries while the rim of the calyxes remains circular. The berries are glabrous and covered in white scales. They measure 5mm to 6mm in length by 5mm to 6mm in width and 3mm to 3.5mm in thickness. The deep purple-burgundy berries turn deep purple-black and soften when ripe. The styles are persistent on the berries. The 2 laterally compressed, ellipsoidal seeds are glossy brown and woody. The seeds measure 1.4mm to 1.6mm in length by 1.4mm to 1.6mm in depth and 0.4mm to 0.6mm in thickness.

Wildlife:

Polyscias elegans does not appear to have any predators though the berries flying foxes, native rats and mice and most fruitigrove birds including the Satin Bower and regent Birds, Lewin’s, and the yellow faced honeyeaters and silver eyes throughout their range.

The fruits have a very strong, somewhat pungent taste reminiscent of nothing I have tasted before. The texture is that of a ripe plum.

Cultivation:

Polyscias elegans is a magnificent tall tree that should be more widely grown in tropical, subtropical and monsoonal gardens. Polyscias elegans grows as a spreading densely foliaged large tree. It is ideal at the edge of a rain forest or as the pioneer trees for a rainforest garden. They also make great park trees offering quick growth, and good shade. In cultivation they will grow from 15 meters to 18 meters in height by 8 meters to 10 meters in diameter when grown in the open or taller and narrower if grown closer together as a rainforest tree.

They grow exceptionally well on lighter soils where deep leaf litter keeps the soil cool and moisture at an even level. If these requirements are met they can cope with temperatures as low as minus 4 degrees and up to 42 degrees once established. It is moderately drought resistant.

Add to the above, if It is given a little native fertilizer on a regular basis the plants will respond with good flowering and possibly good fruit set over a long period.

They often reach their full potential in just 12 to 15 years and flower from the fourth or fifth year from seed.

Propagation:

Seeds: The seeds of Polyscias elegans can be removed easily from the fruits that have fallen to the ground. Polyscias elegans produce a large number of infertile seeds or seeds that germinate over a variable time. Sow large number of seeds and expect only a few to germinate.

Sow the fresh seeds directly into a seed raising mix, keeping them moist not wet. When the seedlings are 20mm to 25mm tall, prick them out and plant them into 50mm native tubes using a good organic mix.

As the seedlings roots reach the bottom of the tubes plant them out into their permanent position. Do not delay as Polyscias have a tendency to set back if root bound.

Further Comments from Readers:

Polyscias murrayi

Classification:

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Asterids

Order: Apiales

Family: Araliaceae

Genus: From Polús, which is Ancient Greek for many and Scias, which is Ancient Greek for shade or an umbrella. It refers to the flowers, which form in many umbels.

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

Sub specie:

Common Name: Pencil Cedar or White Basswood or Umbrella Tree.

Distribution:

Polyscias murrayi is found in several disjunct populations south from Ingham and Mareeba in far north east Queensland to the Eungella National Park and south from the Macpherson Ranges in south eastern Queensland to Malacoota in north eastern Victoria.

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

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Polyscias murrayi prefers dappled shade to full sun. It grows in openings on steeper slopes in well-developed dry rainforests and moist Eucalyptus forests on drier slopes. The altitude ranges from 20 meters ASL to 1150 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 3 degrees in July to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 600mm to 3200mm average per annum.

Soil Requirements:

Polyscias murrayi prefers better quality, well drained sandy loams to medium clays with a high proportion of gravel and copious quantities of forest litter. The soils are derived from decomposed black basalts, brown basalts and metamorphic rocks. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 7pH. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants:18m to 24m by 8m to 12m.

Characteristics:

Polyscias murrayi grows as a tall, straight tree with pale grey, scabrous bark that is usually covered in blue-green lichens and mosses in cooler moist terrains. The stems are thin pale grey becoming pale green-brown to pale grey-green only near the apex with newer leaf growth. The branchlets are covered in rhomboidal scars of discarded leaves.

The clustered leaves of Polyscias murrayi are odd pinnate. The rachises are u shaped in cross section and tapers towards the apex. The base is swollen where it attaches to the branches. There are two small triangular stipules on the upper edge at the base of the rachis. The rachis measures 1000mm to 1300mm in length while the 11 to 17 pairs of opposite petioles measure 10mm to 18mm in length. The terminal petiole is longer than the lateral petioles.

The narrow ovate to elliptical leaflets measure 60mm to 160mm in length by 30mm to 60mm in width. The bases are oblique being rounded on one side and cuneate on the other while the apexes are acute to acuminate. The concolourous laminas are glabrous, grass-green, semi glossy on the upper lamina while the lower lamina is dull. The leaf margins are covered in fine teeth. It is flat and curve slightly upwards from the mid vein. The mid vein is prominent on the lower lamina and is distinctly visible from the lower lamina. The leaves are scentless when crushed.

Inflorescences of Polyscias murrayi are born in large, compound terminal panicles which branch 1 to 3 times. The solitary flowers are arranged racemose on the rachis. The rachis and pedicels are glabrous to sparsely covered in fawn hirtellous hairs. The pedicels measure 1.5mm to 2.5mm. The narrow, urceolate calyx is creamy yellow to pale yellow. The calyxes have 5 triangular lobes. The calyx tubes measure 1mm to 1.2mm in length while the lobes measure 0.2mm to 0.3mm in length. The 5 oblong, straight or twisted petals are white and have acute apexes. They measure 2mm to 2.2mm in length.

The 5 exserted creamy white filaments taper strongly from the base to the anthers and measure 1.4mm to 1.6mm in length while the pale green anthers measure 0.2mm to 0.3mm in length.

The creamy yellow styles are glabrous and measure 0.4mm to 0.6mm in length while the stigma is free and diverge following anthesis. The ovaries have 2 or 3 locules. Polyscias murrayi’s honey scented flowers appear from March to April.

Polyscias murrayi’s fruits are laterally compressed, globose berries while the rim of the calyxes remains circular. The berries are glabrous and turn pale lilac-blue when ripe. They measure 4mm to 5.5mm in length by 5.5mm to 6mm in width and 3.6mm to 4mm in thickness. The style’s bifid stigmas are persistent on the apex of the berries. The 2 laterally compressed, ellipsoidal seeds are fawnish and woody. The seeds are very small.

Wildlife:

Polyscias murrayi does not appear to have any predators though the berries flying foxes, native rats and mice and most fruitigrove birds including the Satin Bower and regent Birds, Lewin’s, and Yellow faced honeyeaters and silver eyes throughout their range.

The fruits have a very strong pungent taste reminiscent of nothing I have tasted before. The texture is that of a plum.

Cultivation:

Polyscias murrayi is a magnificent tall tree that should be more widely grown in tropical, subtropical and monsoonal gardens. Polyscias elegans grows as a spreading densely foliaged large tree. It is ideal at the edge of a rain forest or as the pioneer trees for a rainforest garden. They also make great park trees offering quick growth, and good shade. In cultivation it grows from 15 meters to 18 meters in height by 8 meters to 10 meters in diameter when grown in the open or taller and narrower if grown closer together as a rainforest tree.

It grows exceptionally well on lighter soils where deep leaf litter keeps the soil cool and moisture at an even level. If these requirements are met they can cope with temperatures as low as minus 4 degrees and up to 42 degrees once established. It is moderately drought resistant.

Add to the above, if it is given a little native fertilizer on a regular basis the plants will respond with good flowering and possibly good fruit set over a long period.

It often reaches its full potential in just 12 to 15 years and flower from the fourth or fifth year from seed.

Propagation:

Seeds: The seeds of Polyscias murrayi can be removed easily from the fruits that have fallen to the ground. Polyscias murrayi produce a large number of infertile seeds or seeds that germinate over a variable time. Sow large number of seeds and expect only a few to germinate. Germination is rather quick with

As the seedlings roots reach the bottom of the tubes plant them out into their permanent position. Do not delay.

Further Comments from Readers:

Polyscias sambucifolia

Classification:

Unranked: Eudicots

Unranked: Asterids

Order: Apiales

Family: Araliaceae

Genus: From Polús, which is Ancient Greek for many and Scias, which is Ancient Greek for shade or an umbrella. It refers to the flowers, which form in many umbels.

Specie: From Sambyke, which is Ancient Greek or Sambuca, which is Latin for elderberry and Folium, which is Latin for foliage. It refers to leaves, which resemble the European elderberry, Sambucus nigra.

Sub specie: Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. decomposita. From De, which is Latin for down and (com which is Latin for to come together) composita, which is Latin for to divide more than once. It refers to structures or organs which divide from a common point.

Sub specie: Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. leptophylla. From Gýmnos, which is Ancient Greek for naked or bare and Gramma which is Ancient Greek for a written line. It refers to organs, which have longitudinal lines or faint ribs.

Sub specie: Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. sambucifolia. From Sambyke, which is Ancient Greek or Sambuca, which is Latin for elderberry and Folium, which is Latin for foliage. It refers to leaves, which resemble the European elderberry, Sambucus nigra.

Common Name: Native Elderberry, Elderberry, Elderberry Ash, Ferny Panax or Ornamental Ash.

This species is to undergo further investigation with the possibility of as many as 9 new sub specie or even new species evolving.

Distribution:

Polyscias sambucifolia is found south from Mount Mee in far southern Queensland to the Mount Cole Forest in central western Victoria.

It is also found scattered throughout mainland Tasmania.

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

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Polyscias sambucifolia prefers dappled shade to full shade. It grows in openings adjacent to warm temperate rainforests forests, cool well developed sub-tropical rainforests, littoral rainforests and moist gallery forests. The altitude ranges from 50 meters ASL to 500 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 3 degrees in July to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 450mm to 1800mm average per annum.

Soil Requirements:

Polyscias sambucifolia prefers sandy loams to medium clays with a high proportion of leaf litter. The soils are derived from decomposed black basalts, brown basalts, granites, sandstones, metamorphic rocks and accumulated sands. The soils pH ranges from 4.5pH to 7pH. It does not tolerate water logged soils. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants:

Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. decomposita 1m to 2m by 2m to 4m.

Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. leptophylla 1m to 1.8m by 2m to 3m.

Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. sambucifolia 3m to 5m by 3m to 4m.

Characteristics:

Polyscias sambucifolia’s stems are straight, pale grey, scabrous and usually covered in blue-green lichens and mosses in cooler moist terrains close to rivers and creeks. The stems are thin pale grey becoming pale green-brown to pale grey-green only near the apex with newer leaf growth. The branchlets are covered in rhomboidal scars of discarded leaves. Plants often sucker from the roots when damaged.

The ovate to elliptical or broad elliptical leaflets measure 50mm to 200mm in length by 30mm to 65mm in width. The base is very broadly cuneate while the apex is narrowly acute to narrowly acuminate. The concolourous laminas are blue-green, glabrous and dull. The leaf margins are finely toothed, flat and curve upwards from the mid vein to the margins and downwards near the apex. The mid vein is prominent on the lower lamina. The leaves are scentless when crushed.

The clustered leaves of Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. decomposita are bipinnate or rarely tripinnate. The rachis and petioles are circular in cross section with the rachis being somewhat rhomboidal and spreading widely where it attaches to the stems. The rachis and petiolules are often winged for part or the whole of the length. The rachis measures 100mm to 300mm in length while the petiolules measure 150mm to 200mm in length. The petioles are sessile to petiolules.

The linear or elliptical or rarely falcate leaflets usually measure 15mm to 30mm in length by 5mm to 15mm in width but can measure up to 70mm in length by 25mm in width. The base is broadly cuneate while the apex is narrowly acute to narrowly acuminate. The concolourous laminas are blue-green, glabrous and dull. The leaf margins are entire to deeply pinnatifid. The mid vein is prominent on the lower lamina. The leaves are scentless when crushed.

The clustered leaves of Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. leptophylla are pinnate or rarely tripinnate. The rachis and petioles are circular in cross section with the rachis being somewhat rhomboidal and spreading widely where it attaches to the stems. The rachis and petiolules are often winged for part or the whole of the length. The rachis measures 60mm to 300mm in length. The petioles are sessile to petiolules.

The 13 oblong-linear or rarely slightly falcate leaflets usually measure 50mm to 70mm in length by 15mm to 22mm in width. The base is broadly cuneate while the apex is narrowly acute to narrowly acuminate. The concolourous laminas are blue-green, glabrous and dull. The leaf margins are entire or rarely lobed. The mid vein is prominent on the lower lamina. The leaves are scentless when crushed.

The clustered leaves of Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. sambucafolia are pinnate. The rachis and petioles are circular in cross section with the rachis being somewhat rhomboidal and spreading widely where it attaches to the stems. The rachis measures 90mm to 300mm in length while the 11 leaflets are in 5 opposite pairs. The petioles are sessile to petiolules.

Inflorescences of Polyscias sambucafolia bisexual or male and are born in large, compound terminal panicle which branch 1 to 3 times. Umbels terminate all the apexes on the panicle. The peduncules measure 7mm to 9mm in length while the pedicels measure 2mm to 3mm and are glabrous. The cylindrical or urceolate calyxes are blue-green and glabrous. The 5 elliptical, creamy green lobes measure 3mm to 4mm in length. The cuspidate apexes of the lobes are strongly decurved.

The 5 exserted creamy green thin filaments measure 0.8mm to 1mm in length while the creamy green anthers measure 0.8mm to 1mm in length. The pollen is white.

The creamy green styles are glabrous and measure 0.4mm to 0.6mm in length while the stigma is free and divergent following anthesis. The ovaries have 2 or 3 locules.

Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. decomposita’s flowers appear from November to January and are usually branched 3 times.

Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. leptophylla’s flowers appear from January to February and are single or rarely branched twice.

Polyscias sambucifolia subsp. sambucifolia’s flowers appear from November to February and are usually branched 3 times.

Polyscias sambucifolia’s fruits are slightly laterally compressed, globose berries with a circular rim. The berries are glabrous. They measure 4mm to 4.5mm in length by 4mm to 4.5mm in width and 3mm to 3.5mm in thickness. The pale blue-green berries turn lilac-blue and white and soften when ripe. The styles are persistent on the berries. The 2 laterally compressed, ellipsoidal seeds are glossy brown and woody.

Wildlife:

Polyscias sambucifolia does not appear to have any predators though the berries flying foxes, native rats and mice and most fruitigrove birds including the Satin Bower and regent Birds, Lewin’s, and the yellow faced honeyeaters and silver eyes throughout their range.

The fruits have a very strong pungent taste reminiscent of nothing I have ever tasted before. The texture is that of a plum.

Cultivation:

Polyscias sambucifolia is a small spreading shrub that should be more widely grown in tropical, subtropical and monsoonal gardens as a rainforest understory plant or mixed in with other shrubs of a similar size. Polyscias sambucifolia grows as an open spreading, medium shrub. It is ideal at the edge or within a small rain forest garden or as pioneer shrubs for a rainforest garden. In cultivation it grows from 1 meter to 4 meters in height by 2 meters to 4 meters in diameter when grown in the open.

It can be planted close together and pruned hard once established to help to increase bushiness.

Add to the above, if It is given an adequate supply of ground moisture and a little native fertilizer on a regular basis the plants will respond with good flowering and better fruit set over a long period. This was particularly noticeable with plants around our citrus orchard with the fruit always being large, prolific and attractive to many species of birds.

It often reaches its full potential in just 4 to 5 years and flower from the third or fourth year from seed.

Propagation:

Seeds: The seeds of Polyscias sambucifolia can be removed easily from the fruits that have fallen to the ground. Polyscias elegans produce a large number of infertile seeds or seeds that germinate over a variable time. Sow large number of seeds and expect only a few to germinate.

As the seedlings roots reach the bottom of the tubes plant them out into their permanent position. Do not delay.

Further Comments from Readers:

Polystitichum australiense

Classification:

Unranked: Tracheophytes

Unranked: Polypodiophyta

Class: Polypodiopsida

Order: Polypodiales

Family: Thelypteridaceae

Family: Araliaceae

Genus: From Polús, which is Ancient Greek for many and Stíkhos, which is Ancient Greek for a row or file of soldiers. It usually refers to sporangia which are in two rows along the pinnae/pinnules.

Specie: From Terra Australis, which is Latin for land of the south and Anum/Ensis, which is Latin for to originate from. It refers to plants, which were first discovered from the land down under.

Sub species:

Common Name: Broad Shield Fern

Distribution:

Polystitchum australiense is found in several disjunct populations on and east of the Great Dividing Range south from the Tweed Valley in far north eastern New South Wales to Clyde Mountain in central coastal New South Wales. There are 2 disjunct populations further south Eden on the coast and the Yarra Ranges in south eastern Victoria. It may be more common in more isolated spots with in this range than the maps indicate.

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

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Polystitchum australiense prefers light dappled shade to dense shade. It grows along creeks and streams especially near seepages in cool, humid, well developed temperate and cool humid well-developed subtropical rainforests. The altitude are usually at the middle and higher elevations but ranges from 10 meters ASL to 1400 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 4 degrees in August to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 800mm to an average of 1650mm. Orographic precipitation is common at the higher altitudes and may account for as much as 50{98c9b985d4dc543f86c0cb8c6df3d397ea5754df614d759fdd5c1720a0a9cf2f} more moisture than what is recorded in rain gauges.

Soil Requirements:

Polystitchum australiense prefers to grow on better quality loamy soils to medium clays with a high proportion of forest litter close to the parent rocks. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalts or black basalts or at times heavier fatty grained sandstones and granites. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 7pH. It does not tolerate of water logged soils but demands even soil moisture throughout the year. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.3m to 0.9m by 0.5m to 1m.

Characteristics:

Polystitchum australiense grows as a fern with the lower parts of the rhizome’s stipes covered with fine soft reddish-brown ovate to lanceolate scales.

The fronds are 2 to 3 pinnate. The fronds measure 380mm to 900mm in overall length. The slender 200mm to 600mm stipes are brown and are densely covered in long narrow reddish-brown scales becoming less dense as they approach the apex. The rachises are moderately covered in elliptical, brownish scales with acute, flagella like apex. The rachis is often sparsely covered in scaly proliferous buds which may develop into new plants under favourable conditions. The discolourous laminas are sea-green, coriaceous and glossy on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are paler and dull. The laminas are flat while the ultimate segments have aristate margins and decurve downwards towards the apexes. The teeth are acute to aristate with the apical spine usually equalling the marginal teeth.

The fertile fronds are identical to the sterile fronds. The sori are in irregular rows near the margin of the pinnae. The circular sori’s caduceous indusium is mid brown with a deeper coloured centre.

Wildlife:

Polystitchum australiense’s wildlife is unknown.

Cultivation:

Polystitchum australiense makes an excellent fern where there is deep shade to filtered light in a protected position. It always look green and fresh provided adequate ground moisture is retained in the soil at all times. It is very suitable on medium clays to heavy clay soils and is most suitable for small medium and large gardens close to the coast in warm temperate, warm sub-tropical or cool tropical gardens. It is cold tolerant to temperatures as low as minus 1 degree once established provided frosts are light. Good specimens will grow from 0.6 meters to 0.8 meters in height by 1 meter to 1.3 meters in diameter.

It is most suitable for use deep in the center of a rainforest mixed with other understory plants or in gullies where it will colonize banks. It likes plenty of leaf litter to help increase soil fertility, maintain soil moisture and to maintain a cool root zone. The glossy fronds contrast coloured foliage plants beautifully. Scenes with Cordyline petiolaris and Cordyline terminalis with Polystitchum australiense planted out below and mixed with Adiantum aethiopicum always look particularly attractive.

Large frog or fish ponds are made the more attractive when surrounded by this fern which can spread over large areas if given the opportunity without becoming problem some. Their size makes for a balanced setting.

The fronds can be used in flower arrangements and last particularly well indoors.

Propagation:

Fern 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 they are 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 they are 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 they are 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 they are 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.

This ferns can also be grown from the removal of the proliferous buds along the rachis for small numbers. This is best achieved by leering the frond on the ground or over seed trays where soil moisture is consistent.

Nick the underside of the rachis on the basal side of the proliferous bud and peg it to the ground securely so it does not move. Repeat the process at each bud. Once the buds have taken root gently sever the rachis where the nicks were and treat as young ferns.

Fertilize using Seaweed, fish emulsion or organic chicken pellets soaked in water and apply the liquid on an alternate basis. Fertilize every 2 months until the plants are established then once a year there after in spring or autumn to maintain better colour, health and vigour.

Further Comments from Readers:

Polystitichum fallax

Classification:

Unranked: Tracheophytes

Unranked: Polypodiophyta

Class: Polypodiopsida

Order: Polypodiales

Family: Thelypteridaceae

Family: Araliaceae

Specie: From Fallax, which is Latin for beautiful or vivacious. It refers to the species being the most beautiful in the genus.

Sub species:

Common Name: Broad Shield Fern

Distribution:

Polystitchum fallax is found in several scattered populations mainly on the Great Dividing Range south from the Brisbane in south eastern Queensland to the Liverpool Range in northern New South Wales.

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

Habitat Aspect Climate:

Polystitchum fallax prefers light dappled shade to dense shade. It grows along creeks and streams especially near water falls in warm, humid, well developed temperate and cool humid well-developed subtropical rainforests. The altitude are usually at the middle and higher elevations but ranges from 40 meters ASL to 950 meters ASL.

The temperatures range from minus 4 degrees in August to 36 degrees in January.

The rainfall ranges from lows of 800mm to an average of 2000mm.

Soil Requirements:

Polystitchum fallax prefers to grow on better quality loamy soils to medium clays with a high proportion of forest litter. The soils are usually derived from decomposed brown basalts or black basalts or at times heavier fatty grained sandstones close to the parent rock. The soils pH ranges from 5pH to 6.5pH. It does not tolerate of water logged soils but demands even soil moisture throughout the year. Non saline soils to moderately saline soils are tolerated.

Height & Spread:

Wild Plants: 0.3m to 0.7m by 0.5m to 1m.

Characteristics:

Polystitchum fallax grows as a fern with the lower parts of the rhizome and lower parts of stipes covered with fine, reddish-brown scales at the base d and broader, and often deeper coloured scales higher up.

Polystitchum fallax’s fronds are 2 to 3 pinnate. The fronds measure 400mm to 750mm in overall length. The slender rachises is sparsely covered in reddish-brown scales on mature fronds and measures 200mm to 300mm.

The stipes are brown and are densely covered in long narrow reddish-brown scales becoming less dense as they approach the apex. The rachises are sparsely covered in brownish scales on the mature fronds. The discolourous laminas are deep green, leathery and glossy on the upper laminas while the lower laminas are slightly paler and dull. The ultimate segments with acute or aristate teeth, the apical spine is longer than the marginal lateral teeth.

The fertile fronds are identical to the sterile fronds. The proliferous buds are not present on this species. The obtuse sori are in irregular rows near the margin of the pinnae. The sori’s caduceous indusium is reddish-brown with a deeper coloured centre.

Wildlife:

Polystitchum fallax’s wildlife is unknown.

Cultivation:

Polystitchum fallax makes an excellent fern where there is deep shade to filtered light in a protected position. It always look green and fresh provided adequate ground moisture is retained in the soil at all times. It is very suitable on medium clays to heavy clay soils and is most suitable for small medium and large gardens close to the coast in warm temperate, warm sub-tropical or cool tropical gardens. It is cold tolerant to temperatures as low as minus 1 degree once established provided frosts are light. Good specimens will grow from 0.6 meters to 0.8 meters in height by 1 meter to 1.3 meters in diameter.

It is most suitable for use deep in the center of a rainforest mixed with other understory plants or in gullies where it will colonize banks. It likes plenty of leaf litter to help increase soil fertility, maintain soil moisture and to maintain a cool root zone. The glossy fronds contrast coloured foliage plants beautifully. Scenes with Cordyline petiolaris and Cordyline terminalis with Polystitchum fallax planted out below and mixed with Adiantum aethiopicum always look particularly attractive.