Thursday 27 February 2014
Indigenous Landscape Design: Trema orientalis Pigeon Wood Tree
Indigenous Landscape Design: Trema orientalis Pigeon Wood Tree: Trema orientalis is a common pioneer tree which belongs to the hemp (dagga) family, Cannabaceae. Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis ...
Trema orientalis Pigeon Wood Tree
Trema orientalis is a common pioneer tree which
belongs to the hemp (dagga) family, Cannabaceae.
Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis
Trema orientalis has a very wide distribution in the
tropical and warm temperate parts of the Old World. It´s range extends
from South Africa, through Africa the Middle East, the Indian
subcontinent into southern China, Southeast Asia including
the Philippines and Australia.
Over it´s wide range Trema orientalis has many common
names which include pigeon wood, charcoal-tree and gunpowder tree
Trema orientalis has considerable ecological significance
being a very productive tree
with at least 14 species of butterfly using it
as a larval food plant. Many species of birds are attracted to this tree
to eat the vast amounts of small berries that it produces almost continuously
throughout the year or to feed on the abundant insects which live on these
trees.
Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis berries
In my own garden they are frequented by a large number of bird species
which include Black Collard Barbet, Crested Barbet, Yellow Rumped Tinker Bird,
Glossy, Black Bellied, Violet Backed and Redwinged Starlings, Purple Crested
Turaco, White Eyes, Thickbilled Weavers, Klaas Cuckoo Diederik Cuckoo, Somber
Bulbul, Grey Bulbul, Speckled Mouse bird, Ring Necked Doves and many others.
The vast numbers of tiny greenish yellow flowers are pollinated by various bee
species which attract insect eating birds.
Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis flowers
The leaves are also browsed by game animals and can be
used as spinach. This tree is a fast growing species found in previously disturbed
areas and on forest margins. It is a pioneer species that can
grow on poor soil and can be used to regenerate forest areas by providing shade
and protection to saplings of forest hardwoods
Trema orientalis is a nitrogen fixing tree
which improves soil fertility for other plant species.
From a conventional landscaping point of view Trema
orientalis is not a very suitable candidate for a landscape feature tree
because it often looks rather messy due to its leaves being eaten by just about
every conceivable insect however it is a must in every garden that strives to
encourage wildlife.
Pigeon Wood Trema orientalis leaves eaten by insects
Being a pioneer tree Trema orientalis is very useful when
it comes to establishing a new proudly South African garden in particular on
poor soils providing shade and a windbreak for other plants that are being
established.
Trema orientalis is invaluable when it comes to
indigenous forest restoration where it provides shade, nutrients and organic
material in the form of dead leaves and vast amounts of excrement from the many
insects that feed on its leaves. In addition it provides protection for the
slower growing and more tender specimens. Seeds of many trees are also brought
onto site by birds which come to feed on the seeds though this may not always
be a good thing where undesirable alien plants seeds are brought in by birds
feeding on its fruits.
Friday 21 February 2014
Lily Grass or Weeping Anthericum
Anthericum saundersiae Synonym. Chlorophytum
saundersiae
Anthericum saundersiae is an excellent and very versatile landscape bedding plant that can be grown in the full sun semi and even full shade it is an asset to any landscape design in particular where one would like to plant a productive plant the brings in vast amounts of wildlife into the landscape or garden.
Anthericum saundersiae plant is named after Katharine
Saunders plant collector and botanical artist who was born Katharine
Wheelwright (1824-1901) in
Tansor, Northamptonshire, England she emigrated to
Tongaat, Natal with her husband James who later became the sole
proprietor of the Tongaat Sugar Estate in 1860.
I first collected Anthericum saundersiae which I found
growing in full sun at the Treasure Beach grasslands in Durban in the late
1970`s. The tiny insignificant single stemmed specimen that I collected grew
rapidly under my care and soon started to produce vast amounts of seed which
germinated readily under the ideal conditions that I gave it and in no time at
all I had large numbers of this delightful little plant. Anthericum saundersiae
produces a profusion of little white star like flowers on long thin, arching
stems from mid winter into late summer. Some years later I gave a number of my
still unidentified plants to Geoff Nichols who took a specimen to the Natal
Herbarium at Botanic Gardens where it was identified as Anthericum saundersiae.
I grew and sold Anthericum saundersiae in my own nursery in small numbers but
after they found their way to the Silver Glenn indigenous plant nursery they
were propagated in large numbers making them much more available to the public.
In 2001 I went to stay in Germany where I became familiar
with a very similar and popular specie Anthericum ramosa Syn. graminifolium so
I was not at all surprised when I returned to South Africa seven years later
and found Anthericum saundersiae growing in their countless thousands in nearly
every new garden planting in and around Durban. Whether those plants now in
cultivation came from the one tiny specimen that I collected way back in the
1970`s or from another source I do not know and probably will never know but
the likely hood is certainly high that they did.
Anthericum saundersiae is a very productive trouble free
garden plant that grows to about 700 mm which is ideal for the natural garden
in that it attracts vast numbers of insects in particular large numbers of bee
species from the very smallest to large bumble bees that when they land on the
flower they weight them almost down to the ground causing them to bob up and
down as they move from flower to flower setting the plants in motion as if they
are dancing. I have observed that the foliage is also loved by Scrub Hares, domestic
rabbits and in particular Egyptian Geese.
Although Anthericum saundersiae prefers to grow in full sun
in fertile sandy soil it is a very versatile plant that will grow under almost
any conditions in most soils from sand to heavy clay soils in frost free areas.
Anthericum saundersiae propagates very easily and profusely
from seed but can also be subdivided when seed is not available. Seed
germinates best in raised seed beds or directly on the ground in prepared sandy
soil with a little very well rotted compost added, poor results may be obtained
if seed is planted into a bark based growing medium in seed trays
Sunday 16 February 2014
Attracting dragonflies to your Proudly South African Indigenous Garden
It has been stated by environmental
scientists that Dragon Flies in the garden are an indicator of a healthy well
balanced environment in addition their sensitivity to habitat quality and their
amphibious life cycle make dragonflies well suited for evaluating environmental
changes.
Machado’s Skimmer Orthetrum machadoi
(female) taken in my garden at Mount Moreland
They are carnivorous not only in the
adult stages of their life cycle, but also in their larval stage. The dragonfly
is considered as one of the best agile predator around.
During their nymph phase, when a
dragonfly has to remain underwater, it eats aquatic insects, worms, mosquito
larva, small fish, and little tadpoles. In this phase, it is empowered with a
thrust mechanism system to boost its speed while following its prey. It also
ejects water from its anal opening to increase its speed in times of need.
They feed on small insects such as bees,
ants, wasps, butterflies, flies, and midges. A dragonfly has the ability to
move in different directions swiftly. Hence, it can easily out-fly its prey on
most occasions
Adult dragonflies often hunt for food in
groups, when ants or termites are available in large numbers or when there are
swarms of gnats are available in their proximity. Dragonflies keep mosquitoes
at bay by feeding on them.
Julia Skimmer Orthetrum Julia (male)
taken in my garden at Mount Moreland
It is rather easy to attract these most
interesting and attractive insects into a healthy indigenous garden by
providing breeding opportunities for them in the form of a natural pond either
large or small in fact a tub with a few local aquatic plants is all that it
takes to provide a breeding opportunity for dragonflies just as long as no fish
are placed in them. There is no need to worry about mosquitoes once the pond
had matured and attracted dragon flies as their larvae are voracious carnivores
which relishing mosquito larvae.
For biological control to work enough mosquito
larvae must survive in the ponds to feed the dragon fly nymphs, which largely feed on
mosquito larvae, so a few larvae will always be found in the ponds,
however this small number is compensated for a thousand fold by the vast numbers
of adult mosquitoes that arrive from other sources that are controlled by the
adult dragon flies.
In my own garden I have a number of tubs
and shallow containers planted to an assortment of aquatic plants that together
with plantings of suitable flowering plants attract very large numbers of
Dragonflies to my own garden which act as a very good control for both flies and mosquitos.
Anthericum saundersiae
To help enhance the garden to attract
dragonflies the addition of plants like Anthericum saundersiae, Chlorophytum
cooperii and flowering grasses which attract large numbers of suitable insect
pollinator provide vast amounts of food for these aerial acrobats.
Wednesday 29 January 2014
Agapanthus praecox a floral Gem
Agapanthus praecox sups. orientalis
Agapanthus means love flower, the name agapanthus is made
up of two Greek words agape love and anthos flower. The Zulu name for this
plant is ubani.
Photo taken of a bed of Agapanthus praecox in flower at
my home in Mount Moreland
Agapanthus belongs to the plant family Agapanthaceae
which consists of only one genus that is endemic to southern Africa, meaning
that Agapanthus occurs naturally nowhere else on Earth
This is one of the best known of our South African plants
abroad having been first introduced to and grown in Europe since about 1652.
Agapanthus praecox is easy to grow and will even grow in
poor soils provided it receives sufficient water in particular in summer. For
Agapanthus praecox to perform at its best, it however requires a rich soil with
plenty of compost and plenty of water year round in particular in spring and
summer. Agapanthus praecox do best in full sun.
Agapanthus praecox need to be lifted and divided every
three to four years to keep them healthy and vigorous this being done just
after they have finished flowering. They usually flower best in their first
season after having been divided. When replanting reduce the foliage by a third
to one half and reduce the roots by two-thirds. Replant immediately and water
thoroughly.
Agapanthus are mostly free of pests but can from time to
time be attached by the Agapanthus Borer Moth, Neuranethes spodopterodes
which is native to South Africa. The larvae bore into the budding inflorescence
and as they mature they tunnel down towards the leaves and rhizomes. The
Agapanthus borer is often mistakenly referred to as Amaryllis borer Brithys
crini pancratii which they are most certainly not. A severe attack can promote
rot and may kill the plant.
The introduced exotic European garden snail can at times
also do considerable damage if not controlled.
Agapanthus praecox with its neat growth habit and
spectacular flowers is an asset and a must for every proudly South African
garden and amenity horticultural landscape in the regions where they grow best.
For much of the year the Agapanthus plant does not
attracts large numbers of insects or other creatures but when it comes to
flowering time they attracts large numbers of bees in particular honey bees to
the spectacular blue flowers. And along with the bees creatures that feed on
bees such as crab spiders that wait in a flower to catch the fist unsuspecting
bee that lands to take nectar and pollen as can bee seen in the photo below.
No proudly South African garden or landscape should be
without these most spectacular gems of our South African floral kingdom.
In addition to being spectacular garden plants Agapanthus
praecox have many uses in traditional medicine and magic as well as being used
as love charms.
Thursday 23 January 2014
Acacia karroo one of South Africa's most beautiful and useful trees.
Acacia karroo (Vachellia
karroo) Sweet thorn
This is one of South Africa 's
most beautiful and useful trees.
Acacia karroo
Acacia karroo which is native
to southern Africa is
a very attractive medium sized tree which due to it´s very wide natural
distribution and tolerance to a wide range of soil types makes it suitable as a
landscape tree in practically in any proudly South African garden.
CMR Bean Beetle Mylabris oculata
In addition to being very
attractive and suitable as a landscape feature it is also environmentally a
very productive tree that attracts very large numbers of insects when in flower
in particular honey bees which makes it an asset to any garden. When out of
flower it is the host for a large number of insect species including butterfly
many or which are a valuable food source for in particular birds. Acacia karroo is fast growing and flowers when very small so there is no need to wait for years to see and to experience the benefits of planting this tree.
Honey Bee Mimic Eristalinus taeniops
Acacia karroo is an integrally
part of our country's history having been used for everything from raft-making
to sewing needles and fencing for the houses of the royal Zulu women. The
thorns were even used by early naturalists to pin the insects they collected!
Common Dotted Fruit Chafer Cyrtothyrea marginalis
A long running debate about
the classification of Acacia was resolved at the 2011 Botanical
Conference held in Melbourne .
The debate arose out of
research over the past few decades which established that the two main groups
of acacias (the African and Australian groups) were distinct and needed to be
separated into different genera. The debate centered around the issue of which
group of plants would retain the name Acacia, based on the following
opposing views:
Those supporting the
retention of the name Acacia for the African group argued that the
genus was originally described from an African species, Acacia nilotica
Those supporting the
retention of Acacia for the Australian group argued that the vast
majority of species occurred in Australia
and that reclassification of those species would incur considerable disruption
and expense.
In the end the Australians were
the winners and a group of African trees know as Acacias since ancient and biblical
times now have other names.
Until the reclassification of
the genus, Acacia had about 1400 species spread over five sub-genera. Now Acacia is a genus of around 1000
species, most of which occur in Australia
with another dozen or so being found in Asia .
Garden Fruit Chafer Pachnoda
sinuata
What we have always known as
Acacia karroo is now officially known as
Vachellia karroo a name
that many including myself having voted against the name change will never
accept.
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