Furfher Notes Concerning the Cenfral
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l9s9l LOTHIAN: LIVISTONA FurfherNotes Concerning The Cenfral AusfralianCabbage Palm - LivistonaMariae T. R. N. Lorur.Llv, Director, Botanic GartXen, Adelaide, South Australia. In this journal (Principes 2:92-94, lings of this palm were seen. These oc- I95B) some general comments were curred in various places: in densecolo- given earlier concerning the habits and nies under palms, as rows of seedlings habitat of Liuistona Maria,e. Since these which have grown from seed washed were written" a visit has been made to into rock crevices; or as individual seed- Palm Valley as part of an overall bo- lings in isolatedsmall pocketsof soil in tanical reconnaissanceof the northwest the rock mass. of South Australia and southern central The age to which palms grow before portions of Central Australia. Whilst dying is not known. A careful investiga- in Palm Valley, the opportunity was tion was made in Palm Valley, but very taken to make further observations and few fallen trunks were noted. Most cer- to collect a small quantity of seed.This tainly none had fallen in recent years. seedwas obtained with a view to carry- It is likely, however, that trees live to a ing out a few germination tests; not considerable age, becausepalms of 50 only to discover the type of seedwhich or 60 feet high had only commenced to was viable, but to enquire into the stages develop the root mound which most of germination. palms produce as they reach maturity. Gencral Obseroations In half a doz,encases only were these The natural soil of Palm Valley is, as root mounds of any consequence(Fig. one would expect, river-washed sand 28) . In these instances they were 4-6 and gravel. About 6-9 inches below the feet through at the base and about 5 feet surface, heavier material is found, and high. Other than this, the trunks ap- stones often 4-5 inches in diameter oc- peared to develop straight from the soil cur. The surface of the soil is covered level. with decaying organic matter. In the The old fronds initially remain on the palm thickets (Fig. 30) this debris has trunks, bend downwards, and become built up to a considerablethiclcness. It appressed around the trunk like an is often several feet above the general apron, where they die. As in Washing- level of the river bed, and unlessthe riv- tonia, these old fronds stay in position er is in very high flood, very little of until blown off by strqng winds, but in this matter is lost by water. the centre of the thickets where wind The bed of the Finke River, which velocity is greatly reduced, the fronds forms the gorge and habitat whereLiais- remain adhering to the trunk. However, tona grows, is approximately two miles as the palm grows and the crown and long, an'd up to 200 yds. wide. There trunk are taken above the protective are, however, one or two outliers still stand, the dead leaves either fall or are within the general gorge area, but quite blown off, leaving the trunk bare (Fig. separate,and forming "islands." 26). In the field a Iarse number of seed- One feature rarely noted amongst PRINCIPES IVol. :l standsof palms was the number of curv- though interferenceby other plantscan- ing, twisted, and crooked trunks. From not be overlooked. Reference to the observationsit was not possible to de- plate (Fig. 52) in my previous article cide what had causedthe trunksto grow will show that the tall palm is greatly in this position (Fig. 30, right). al- arched; but as the photo shows lFig. 26. Palms shorv the retained apron oi old fronds in the centre of a thicket, but bare trrrnks above and to right. les9l LOTHIAN:LIVISTONA 55 "S." 29 ) the trunks are in the forrn o{ an probably in a soil deficient in organic The height of these palms is approxi- matter. mately 60 feet. The rate of growth following the pro- Seetllings in the tr'ield duction of the initial leaf is not known, but it undoubtedlydepends on the water The initial seedlingleaf is single, and supply. Rain in this region is by no except for some broadening towards the means re$ular, although there is prob- apex, the next three to six leaves are ably a certain amount of underground undivided. This broadeningof the la- water which the roots o{ these plants mina proceeds, then the leaf divides at can draw on freely. When the seedling the tip, and in the lOth or l2th leaf a has developeda trunk approximatelf palmate frond develops. The young the diameter of the mature palm, the leaves have weak spines along their trunk commencesto elongate. This may edges but these quickly disappear. As take at least l0 to 12 yearsin the fielj. the subsequent leaves occur, the spines At this stage the petioles may still be beconrernore rigid and stronger along coloured,but the lamina commencesto their petioles, until those along the changefrom red to glaucouscolour, and stalks of the initial palmate fronds are when the trunk is about 6 feet hish nor- quite strong and sharp and are small mal greenleaves are produced. replicas of those to be seen along the Undoubtedly the rate of growth also mature leaf stalks. determines not only the age but the The leaves of the seedlings growing height at which this palm reachesma- amongstthe mature palms are green and turity (flowers). Numerous specimens never assume a reddish hue. It was were examined,but none had uroduced noted, however, that in those seedlings flowers if the trunk was under l5 feet. growing away from the rnain colony However, palms of 25-30 feet showed of palms the leaves were a deeper col- old flower headspresent and it is likely our, and in one or two instancesthey that somewhereabout this height they had already commencedto turn reddish. commenceto flower. It would appear that the young plants It was previonsly stated that flower- "probably assumethe reddish tinge to dull red and ing is annual." In the main almostcinnamon red only when growing this statement remains substantially in fully exposed sites, and more espe- true, becauseat this height the palms cially when growing as individual seed- are likely to be drawing freely on under- lings well separatedfrom the main palm ground water supplies and are therefore (such colony as in rock crevices or no longer dependenton seasonalrains. pockets). On the other hand, without Prolonged droughts only would curtail exception, the seedlingsgrowing in ex- regular growth and flowering. posedsites had red leaves,and it was not A large number of seedlingswas ex- until theseplants commencedto produce cavated in an endeavour to trace their a trunk that the colour of the leaves root growth and root developmentdur- changedfrom red to a glaucouscolour. ing the young years. Following germi- It would appear, therefore, that to nation, roots descend rapidly. The juvenile produce red or young foliage crown was at least 4-6 inches below the under cultivation it is essentialto grow soil level and the roots of seedlinsshav- seedlingsin a hot fully exposedsite, and ing three or four leavesextendej to at 56 PRINCIPES [Vol. 3 least lB inches deep. By this stage Five weekslater (5th September) no there was also considerablelateral root seedlingshad occurred in groups A and spread. As can be seenfrom the accom- E. In group B there were two seedlings, panying photograph (Fig. 32), the de- and in groups C and D one seedlingin velopmentof the seedlingsfollowing the each had appeared above the ground. production of the shoot and fourth leaf By 27rh September,the following ger- is fairly regular, but the trunk develop- minatibns had taken place: Group A- ment is extremelyslow, one seedlingcommencing to show above the soil ; Group B - two seedlings; Germinntion ol Seed Group C-one seedling; Group D- From the seedcollected in the field, a eight seedlings, five several inches high quantity was sown under controlled con- and three just breaking the soil level; ditions at the Adelaide Botanic Garden. Croup E-no germination. Before sowing the seed was sorted into On 27th October, the following was five groups. (SeeFig. 2?.) the progressof the five batchesof seed: Group A-two seedlingswere growing, Group A: The thin but fleshy exocarp one freely with an upright leaf, the of brownish-plum colour was entire. other slowly with an abnormal leaf This was presentseason's seed. (curled and prostrate) ; Group B-two Group B: Exocarp covering was seedlings produced, one growing slightly chipped, brownish'black in strongly, the other very weak; Group C colour, but at least 75 per cent of the - two seedlings which subsequently individual seed was covered. Prob' died; Group D-nine seedlings well ably present season'sseed. above the soil level, all growing very strongly; Group E-no germination. Group C: The covering had started to On l9th November,approximately 15 rot away, was comparatively thin, weeks after sowing the seed. the pots grey coloured, and in some instances were removed from the propagating pit, covered less than approximately 50 eachwas emptied, and a checkwas made per cent of the seed. This could be on the number of seedswhich had ger- seedof previousyears (seasons). minated, the condition of the seedlings Group D; The covering was entirely re- and of the remaining seeds. The results moved, and representedfresh seed. were as follows: Group /: This comprised obviously old Group l-Four seedlingsproduced, of seed. The fruit was in some instances which two seedshad germinated re- deeply pitted or indented, black in cently and were just pushing through colour, and when cut in half before the surface of the soil.