Plant of the day is: Callicoma serratifolia or black wattle
I've been away from work for a few days and I'm getting a little antsy to check germination on several Australian species. I like the flowers on this one, they really remind me of Croton flowers but they are morphologically quite a bit different (different families). It's called the black wattle because of the flowers resemblance to Acacia actually, which it also isn't. Whatever you want to call it, it was an important part of early Australian settlement.
New thing: When not overly difficult to find, going to include the definition of the Latin names. It helps me and others to remember a plant.
Callicoma: Greek- kalos = beauty and kome = hair. In reference to fluffy flower heads
serratifolia: Latin - serratus = saw-toothed and folius = leaf. In reference to serrated margins as seen below
Photo Credit: John Tann
A great image of the leaf underside, note the strong serration on the leaf margins. Really earning the serratifolia designation.
Taxonomy, etc.: If you've never heard of the Callicoma genus, it's probably because it is monotypic. Callicoma serratifolia is the only species in the genus. It was first published in 1809 by Henry Charles Andrews. He was not only a botanical artist but an engraver, colorist, and publisher. He published The Botanist's Repository which was the first serious contender to Kew's famous Curtis's Botanical Magazine. If you're wondering what I'd like for Christmas. First edition copies of any of these would suffice :). As a random fun fact, he married the daughter of John Kennedy, who helped him with descriptions of his illustrations. If you'll recall back a few weeks ago to the Lee and Kennedy write up. It's all connected folks.
Callicoma is a member of the Cunoniaceae family, a relatively small family of about 26 genera and 350 species of woody plants. Many of them are laurifolia species. I had no idea that a laurel forest was a thing. They are subtropical forests with high humidity and relatively stable mild temperatures, usually with broad leaf evergreen species. Learn something new every day. Species are usually opposite or whorled and evergreen, often with conspicuous stipules. Flowers have four or five (rarely 3 to 10) sepals and petals. Also these are Antarctic flora so...southern hemisphere. Most of the them are found around Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, and New Caledonia.
Photo Credit: David Midgley
Extreme close up! Whoaaaaaaa
Description: A busy shrub or small tree. Wiki lists it as reaching 20 m in height but from the looks of things and other more credible sights, it looks to usually from 6-12 m depending on site conditions. Leaves are simple, opposite, have stipules (remember that trait!). Upper surface of leaves is a nice glossy green while the underside have a very light colored pubescence (visible in photo above). Flower heads are about 10 to 20 mm in diameter and have a pretty pronounced 10 to 30mm long peduncle (that long green thing attaching to the flower in the photo above). Small (2 mm) sepals that are yellowish. For some great images and description check out the floragreatlakes.info site. Worth noting that young stems often have villous stems with reddish bark. Can live over 50 years.
Habitat/range: It is typically found in moist gullies close to creeks (think of it as an Australian Cephalanthus). It is found along the coastal areas of New South Wales from the Braidwood district to south-east Queensland. Or you can see it on a map here. Often a regrowth plant. Is fairly secure but Australia is certainly battling a lot of invasive species and land development like we all are. If you're traveling and want to see a few, hit up Wallingat National Park. Can be grown in a wide range of environments as long as it is fairly shady and soil stays fairly moist.
Photo Credit: John Tann
Ethnobotany: Was the main species used in 'wattle and daub' huts by the first European settlers to Port Jackson. Hence the name 'Black wattle'.
Propagation: We'll see how seed does. Can be struck from cuttings taken in March/April (in Australia). Semi-ripe material with an IBA treatment.
some beauties at Springbrook, near the English Gardens, and in reveging sites along Bilborough court.
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