Communities

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Scientific Name

Pentachondra ericifolia

Family Name

EPACRIDACEAE

Common Name

Matted Pentachondra

Status

Rare

Height

Flowers

White, solitary, near ends of branches. Short scattered hairs on outside of corolla tube.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Small heath-like shrub, dwarf, spreading to erect with hairy young growth.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Brighton; Central Highlands; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands

Communities

Montane Vegetation

Habitat Notes

Tas. endemic. Found in montane habitats of the central plateau and at Mr. Dromedary. Requires acidic soils which do not dry out readily. Hardy to frost and snowfalls.

Site Tolerance

Exposed; Moist; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

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

General Notes

Rare in cultivation at present. Will require exceptionally good drainage in acid soils which do not dry out. Has potential for use in rockeries in temperate regions. A sunny site will enhance flowering. 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

Berry-like fruits which are actually drupes. small, splitting into 5 parts when ripe

Seed Treatment Method

Fermentation

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Difficult to propagate from seed collected from plants. Seeds are said to germinate better after passage through a bird's intestine.

Germination Time

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

Propagate from cuttings using very soft young growth. Particular care should be taken when handling the minute seedlings because they develop long, fine roots. A well-composted soil is essential and care should be taken not to let plants dry out. A sunny site will enhance flowering.