Winter Seeders – The Patient Ones

Winter Seeders – The Patient OnesBy Spencer Shaw
In summer many seed hit the ground and are putting down roots within a matter of days. Those warm balmy tropical days and nights are perfect for vegetative growth and seeds tend to establish themselves very quickly. Conditions for growth are at their best in spring and summer with the rainforest seed that fall then wasting no time in their race for survival………….. Sorry drifted off for a second there thinking about warm balmy tropical days and nights as I huddle over my keyboard on a cool autumn night!!!.Species like Guioa semiglauca, Harpullia pendula, Pennantia cunninghamii are classic summer seeders, germinating extroverts so to speak. They are the sorts of seed that can’t wait to get out of their skins the moment they hit the ground and race for the sky!!! Their winter cousins can be somewhat on the shy side however, and remain introverts until the warmth of spring tempts them to poke out a root node and make their break for the light.In winter temperatures drop and growth conditions for seedlings become less than favourable. Many seedlings that have sprouted during the warmer months and that haven’t become sufficiently established may die off and if these seedlings are struggling, how could seed falling in winter survive if they where to germinate?The answer is often to postpone germination for the winter seeders. Many have growth inhibitors either chemical (i.e. the fruit on Acmena) or mechanical (i.e. seed coats as in Melia) that allow them to lie dormant in the soil until warmer conditions return when growth is possible. This is when the investment of developing a seed that can survive the winter pays of, because they are often the first to germinate when warm conditions return and because they have little competition they have the field (or at least the forest) to themselves.Two winter seeders to keep an eye out for, (but don’t expect them to germinate overnight) are:Syzygium ingens – Red apple; these beautiful fast growing trees are dropping their large red fruit at the moment and they are well worth the trouble of growing as they are a truly outstanding and as I said fast growing tree. The fruit are about 20-30mm in diameter, so easy to spot just and collect from below the tree where they fall. They can be sown fruit and all in a good potting compost but benefit from soaking in water for at least a fortnight to drown any grubs that may be present. Personally I allow the fruit to sit in a bucket until they have gone a bit mushy (some people just never grow up) and the give them a good stir and rinse until the fruit is removed and then sow. Whilst collecting fruit out along Stanley river road two years back I was fortunate enough to see several of the very rare Coxens fig parrot feeding on the fruit. Unfortunately this tree was cut down during road widening so all the more reason to plant these beautiful trees if they are a source of winter food for a bird on the verge of extinction.Melia azederach – White Cedar; these are a much underrated tree from our local forests. Incredibly quick to establish and grow, providing a beautiful timber (for those in it for the long run), with small but very attractive flowers and a bird attracting fruit, but wait there’s more…..One thing that puts many people of the white cedar is their deciduous nature and the fact that they often are stripped by caterpillars just before they loose their leaves in autumn. The fact that they are deciduous I can see to be of benefit i.e. perfect for the north side of a house by providing summer shade and yet allowing winter sun in. Also they are great on a reveg site providing quick cover (upto 4m in their first year) in the heat of summer and yet allowing light onto their neighbours during winter. White cedar is in fruit at the moment and the masses of yellow fruit are easy to see on the bare branches. The yellow fruit consist of a fleshy layer surrounding a hard stone that contains several small seeds. The hard stone protects the seed until warmer conditions return and they are often one of the first locals to sprout on a disturbed site in spring.