Persoonia acerosa
Sieber. ex Schult. & Schult.f.
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Summary
Source: WikipediaPersoonia acerosa, commonly known as needle geebung, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It is a shrub with small, channelled, needle-like leaves, yellow tubular flowers and yellowish-green, pear-shaped fruit.
Description
A small shrub. It grows 0.5-2 m high and spreads 0.5-1.5 m wide. Young growth can be slightly hairy. The branches are erect or spreading. The leaves are 1.2-2.3 cm long by 0.05 cm wide. They are needle like. They curve inwards and have a channel above. They are crowded, green and have a fine tip. The flowers are 0.8 cm wide. They are pale yellow and in the axils of leaves. They form leafy spikes near the ends of small branches. The fruit are fleshy and 1 cm long by 0.8 cm wide. They are green.
Edible Uses
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is succulent but astringent, with a sweet fibrous pulp attached to one large seed. The flavour has been compared to sweet cotton wool and is relished by Australian Aborigines.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It grows in heath and open forest. It grows on sandstone. It needs well drained acid soil. It can grow in a sunny or slightly shady position. It can tolerate heavy frosts and dry periods.
Where It Grows
Australia*, Britain, Europe,
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know how hardy it will be in Britain. Plants tolerate temperatures down to at least -7°c in Australian gardens, though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Requires a warm position in full sun in a freely draining preferably sandy slightly acid soil, preferring a pH around 6.3 to 6.5. Soils should be low in nutrients, especially nitrates and phosphates.
Propagation
Scarify the seed and sow in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in autumn. Keep the seed tray in a sunny position through the following summer; the seed should germinate in autumn. Around 46% germination can be expected. Prick out young seedlings into individual pots within 1–2 days of emergence, as the roots are very brittle and plants are easily killed. Grow on in the greenhouse for at least the first two winters, then plant out into permanent positions in early summer. Provide some protection from winter cold for at least the first winter outdoors.
Other Uses
None known
Notes
There are about 90 Persoonia species. They grow in Australia. Many have fruit which are edible.
References (3)
- Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1997, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 7. Lothian. p 207
- Mant. 3:269. 1827
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
