Communities

Scientific Name

Leptecophylla divaricata

Family Name

EPACRIDACEAE

Common Name

Divaricate Cheeseberry

Status

Height

0.3m - 0.9m (30-90cm)

Flowers

Small, cream with short stalk and functionally unisexual.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

An erect, much-branched shrub. Prickly, narrow leaves are striped white under.

Municipalities

Communities

Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland

Habitat Notes

Tas. endemic. Dry, rocky sites in woodlands, usually within 40km of the south-eastern coast.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Rocky; Shady; Shady

Frost Tolerance

Soil Tolerance

Fertile; Loam; Phosphorous intolerant; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained

General Notes

Not commonly cultivated. Requires a well-composted soil and heavy shade. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Drupes vary in colour from pale-pink to red and are about 8mm in dia. after collection masticate seed , leave on a hot window sill or store in paper bags and then remove dried seed case

Seed Treatment Method

Fermentation

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Difficult to grow from seed. May take 1-3 years to germinate. Seed is said to germinate better after passing through a bird.

Germination Time

1-3 years

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Diffiicult to grow from cuttings. Excessive care must be taken in handling the typically fine roots of epacrids.