Lomatia fraseri

Family:

Proteaceae

Name Origin:

Lomatia — from Greek loma, fringe or border, referring to leaf stalk-border around seed wing.

fraseri — after Charles Fraser (1788-1831), first Superintendent of Sydney Botanic Gardens.

Regional Subspecies:

Regional:

Areas east of the Hume Highway with higher rainfall.

Australia:

NSW, Vic.

Habitat:

Margins of cool and warm temperate rainforest in mountain areas. Also forests, open woodlands and exposed heaths up to 1500 m altitude.

Habit:

Shrub or small tree to 8 m high. Grey to grey-brown bark and stiff leathery leaves 6-12 cm long, the upper surface green and the lower silky.

Site Preference:

Deep, moist well-drained soil in sun or shade. Tolerates some wetness, most frost, limited dry periods and most soils and aspects.

Characteristics:

Very variable, particularly leaf shape.

Flowering:

Creamy white, summer.

Seed Collection:

Monitor closely as seeds released immediately or within 1-2 days of maturity. Large quantities produced in leathery black fruit.

Propagation:

From seed or cuttings. Germinates readily from fresh seed. May be suitable for sowing directly into pots or into field. Seedlings grow slowly.

Wildlife:

Good habitat.

Ornamental:

Very attractive ornamental. Interesting foliage and seed follicles. Mulch with well-rotted compost and prune lightly.