[pbs] OT, Araucaria talk
John Grimshaw
j.grimshaw at virgin.net
Thu Apr 3 01:55:22 EDT 2008
Jim McKenney wrote: So now I wonder: is A. bidwillii grown in the
UK in the open garden? Does it become large enough to fruit?
It is easiest to reply by providing the text for my account of Araucaria
bidwillii that will appear in my forthcoming book 'New Trees, Introductions
to Cultivation 1970-2005' which will be published by the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew, in about a year's time.
(formal description omitted)
The Bunya Pine is a magnificent tree in its native Queensland, and is grown
quite widely in Australia and elsewhere for its ornamental value (Elliott &
Jones 1982). Mature trees are somewhat hazardous on account of the risk of
being hit by a falling cone. At present there seems to be little risk of
this in our area [North America north of San Francisco and the NC/SC
boundary, Europe north of the Mediterranean basin], where A. bidwillii is on
the very edge of its tolerance, even in the mildest locations. It has
however reached 11 m (33 cm dbh) in the past at Glendurgan, Cornwall (TROBI
record from 1965) and the current British and Irish champion is a 6 m
specimen at Earlscliffe, Baily, Co. Dublin (TROBI). It is therefore worth
the attempt in the mildest coastal areas of Europe and western North
America, but great size and longevity are perhaps too much to hope for.
TROBI = Tree Register of the British Isles
I'd better get on with the book itself!
John Grimshaw
Dr John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Nr Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL53 9NP
Tel. 01242 870567
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