ISHS Acta Horticulturae 541: IV International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
UTILISATION OF HELICHRYSUM OBCONICUM DC. AS ORNAMENTAL PLANT: PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON POT ADAPTATION |
| Authors: | M.J. Oliveira Dragovic, S.G. Ferreira, M.C. Neves |
| Keywords: | Madeira, endemic, pinching, pruning, canopy |
| Abstract:
Helichrysum obconicum DC. is an endemic plant of Madeira Island (Portugal) with potential to be used as an ornamental pot and/or garden plant. It is a small shrub with grey silver leaves and small yellow golden flowers. The natural conditions and the phenological aspects of some H. obconicum populations located in Ponta de S. Lourenço, were observed from March 96 to December 97. The plants are in vegetative stage from December to June; new leafy shoots appear, and plants may acquire a dense canopy. The flowering period starts in July-August with the appearance of the first golden-brown buds; the reproductive period extends until October-November with the release of seeds and the leaf senescence. The senescence process is gradual; it starts from the bottom of the plant and when it reaches the upper part, there are already new shoots sprouting from the basal nodes. The adaptation to pot and the response of the plants to pinching techniques to create a compact canopy were analysed by monthly observations. All the rooted cuttings were successfully transplanted to pots. The plants showed good adaptation to pots and quickly increased the canopy and covered the pot. On plants transplanted to pots in September 97, leafy shoots appeared and some of the plants produced flower and fruit in the following year. On plants transplanted to pots on April 98 the pinching techniques promoted sprouting, originating 2-6 new sprouts in the stem. During the months corresponding in nature to the reproductive period, the plants reacted slowly to the pinching. Quicker response was obtained in the vegetative months. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
