Communities

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Scientific Name

Planocarpa nitida

Family Name

EPACRIDACEAE

Common Name

Black-fruited Heath

Status

Rare

Height

0.4m (40cm)

Flowers

White, solitary in axils of upper branches.

Fruit

Berries or drupes

Form

Dark green shrub with many individual erect stems.

Municipalities

Central Highlands; Huon Valley; Meander Valley

Communities

Heath; Montane Vegetation

Habitat Notes

Tas. endemic. Confined to heath on the sand dunes of the Central Plateau around Lake Augusta. Grows in shallow, stony soils.

Site Tolerance

Dry; Exposed; Moist; Rocky; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

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

General Notes

Prefers dappled 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

Fruit a black drupe. 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. Seed may germinate better after passing through a bird.

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

Difficult to grow from cuttings. Extreme care is needed when handling the typically fine roots of epacrids.