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Old 28-09-2006, 11:10 AM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Sacha[_1_] Sacha[_1_] is offline
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Default Eucalyptus ficifolia seeds

On 28/9/06 09:28, in article
, "DavePoole Torquay"
wrote:

This has been shifted out of Eucalyptus and is now Corymbia ficifolia.
Those pods contain quite a few seeds and provided they are sufficiently
ripe, will yield enough seed for a forest or two. Subjecting them to a
lot of heat for a very short period should persuade them to open.
Rather like many Eucalypts, the seed only tends to be released after a
fire, so throwing the pods into the fire for a few minutes or burning
them on the gas hob should do the trick. You could take a hammer to
them, but a lot of these things germinate far more readily if they have
been subject to heat and smoke.

This is a marginally hardy tree (only in the south west) that can
withstand temperatures to about minus 3C before any damage is incurred.
It does reasonably well in large pots, where its size will be
restrained. Flowering takes place after about 5 - 6 years, but there's
no guarantee for the colour - it could be white, pink or scarlet. Even
when out of flower, the leaves are very handsome, so once it has
reached a decent size it will look good regardless of flowers.


And following on from this - while we were in Madeira we saw the aftermath
of several forest fires, most/many of which involved Eucalyptus plantations
in the higher areas. The Eucalyptus were chosen for planting there because
there is high rainfall in Madeira and these trees both take up a lot of
water and help stabilise the ground. Their water absorption helps to
prevent vast quantities of rainwater racing down the hillsides to cause
damage or even just to swell the already existing and very beautiful
waterfalls!
However, as these trees had been severely damaged by fire, we wondered if
there would be nay hope of regeneration or whether, seeds having fallen
perhaps, there will now have to be a frantic thinning out of future baby
eucalypts!

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/