Woody
Stems and branches with a woody texture commonly associated with shrubs or perennials.
Decumbent
A plant that lies along the ground (prostrate) with ascending tips.This low growing shrub has arching branches that spread widely and forms a semi-prostrate habit. It has narrow fragrant mid green leaves and the 2 lipped lavender flowers appear in a cluster during summer.
Rosmarinus lavandulaceus is naturally found in southern Europe. It prefers a well drained stony soil that is moderately fertile and tending alkaline with a pH range from 6.5 to 7.8 and grows in an open sunny position. It is drought, frost and salt tolerant.
Rosemary is a long lived herb that is grown for its foliage and its spreading habit. It is planted in small cottage gardens as a specimen or used as a ground cover or spill over. It is suitable for coastal regions establishing in 1 - 2 years and may be planted into containers or rock gardens. It is also cultivated commercially and used in herbal remedies, toiletries and in cooking. It has a low water requirement once established (Scale: 1-drop from 3) preferring organic rich reliable moist soil during summer.
I.D. 182
UK hardiness zone H5
Climate zones 4 - 24, H1, H2
USDA Zone 6-11
Rosmarinus (ros-ma-REEN-us) lavandulaceus (lav-an-dew-LAH-kee-us)
Etymology
Genus – Latin - Rosmarinus – ‘ros’ (dew) and ‘marinus’ (of the sea)
Species: - lavandulaceus – referring to lavender-like leaves
Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee)
(Labiatae)
Mint Family
Distribution
This large family of plants commonly with square stems and are found throughout the world from tropical forests to the arctic tundra from sea level to mountainous regions and predominantly in the Mediterranean region.
Diagnostic Features
The plants in this family are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or small or large trees and rarely woody climbers that have quadrangular stems and many are strongly scented.
The leaves are normally simple with serrated or divided (pinnate or bipinnate) margins and are arrangement opposite (decussate) or rarely whorled or alternate and have no stipules. Many are covered in glands or hairs that contain aromatic oils.
The strongly zygomorphic bisexual flowers normally are arranged in a cymose cluster commonly with bracts and bracteoles. The calyx is tubular with 4 - 5 teethed or lipped sepals that are persistent. The corolla is tubular with 5 fused petals, which are normally 2 lipped with the upper lip containing 2 petals and the lower 3 petals.
There are 2 - 4 stamens arranged in pairs of equal or unequal length and are epipetalous (attached to the corolla tube) and are normally exserted.
The ovary is superior has 2 fused carpels with 2 - 4 locules that contain 4-basal ovules. The style is gynobasic (forming at the base) between the carpel lobes.
The fruit enclosed in the persistent calyx and may be a drupe but when it splits into 4 one seed dry nutlets that contain little or no endosperm.
Note:
Many of the species are grown as ornamental plants and many have been recently reclassified. Some of them are grown for culinary use and other species naturalise and become weeds.
This plant tolerates between USDA zones 6a to 11a and grows to 0.2 m (6in)
Fahrenheit -10º to 45º F
These temperatures represent the lowest average.
Celsius -20.6º to 7.2º C
Attention
All photographs and data are covered by copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, reference or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any means with out written permission. All inquiries should be addressed to plantfile.com attention Peter Kirkland.
Simple
The leaf that is not divided.
Linear
Margins are parallel and length is ten times its breadth.
Opposite
Leaves that are arranged opposite to each other.
Recurved - Revolute
A leaf margin that is curved or bending backwards with rolled edges.
Tubulate
A flower that forms a tube shape.
Raceme
An inflorescence forming along a central stem of indefinite length with flowers having there own stems.| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
The 10 mm (3/8 in) long tubulate flowers are pale lavender with violet spots. They are arranged in a cluster of 15 - 20 that appear in the upper leaf axils from spring to early summer and are pollinated by bees.
Nut (dim. nutlet)
An indehiscent single locular 1 to 2 seeded fruit. Outer layer (pericarp) has a hard layer."Rosemary is a long lived herb that is grown for its foliage and its spreading habit. It is planted in small cottage gardens as a specimen or used as a ground cover or spill over. It is suitable for coastal regions establishing in 1 - 2 years and may be planted into containers or rock gardens. It is also cultivated commercially and used in herbal remedies, toiletries and in cooking.
Take semi hardwood cutting during autumn.
Asexual Propagation (Cuttings general)
Propagation from cuttings is possible because every cell of a plant containers the genetic information to create an entire plant.
1. Reproduction occurs through the formation of adventitious roots and shoots.
2. The uniting of vegetative parts with budding and grafting.
3. Taking stem cuttings and layering is possible due to the development of adventitious roots
4. Root cuttings can form new shoots and it is possible to join roots and shoots to form a new plant.
5. A new plant may be formed from a single cell in an aseptic culture system, (cloning).
It is important to propagate vegetatively as this form of cloning retains the unique characteristics of the cultivars or where particular aspects of a plant may be lost if propagated by seed.
Equipment Required for Taking Cuttings
1. A sharp knife that is not too large or a razor mounted in a handle.
2. Good pair of sharp secateurs that is clean.
3. A dibbler to make a hole in the media and allow the cutting to be placed in.
4. Propagation structures that are either a timber frame with glass or polyethylene cover or a glasshouse.
The object of the structure is to create an environment where the temperature and humidity can be controlled. This can be achieved with a simple cover over a pot with a wire frame and plastic.
This stops the draughts and maintains humidity.
5. A hotbed is a useful item as many plants root more quickly if the media is slightly warmer.
Bottom heat is obtained from thermostatically controlled heating cables that are running under the media.
6. Misting systems are of great benefit to cuttings as the regulated fogging with water inhibits the cuttings from drying out and as a result the cuttings may be grown in full sun.
This results in faster root development and less subject to diseases by fungi and bacteria.
7. Rooting mediums
The rooting medium must be well drained, sand may be used as long as it is thoroughly washed and leached of all salts. It is very well drained and it is excellent for cutting that root up quickly. Equal parts of sand and peat moss have good results for cuttings, which are left for a period of time to allow the roots to form.
Vermiculite and perlite are also used as a well-drained rooting media but has the same disadvantage as sand having no nutrients. The cuttings must be potted up as soon as the roots developed, or a light application of liquid fertiliser can be applied.
Types of Cuttings
Stem cuttings
These are the main types of cuttings.
1. Softwood cuttings
These cuttings are taken from young growth on side shoots and tip growth.
2. Semi hardwood cuttings
These cuttings are taken from wood that is firmer and semi ripe usually during mid summer.
3. Hardwood cuttings
These cuttings are taken from mature wood normally towards the end of the season.
4. Root cuttings
Cut sections of roots to obtain new plants during late winter to early spring.
5. Leaf cuttings
Cut the leaf blade in order to obtain new plants during the growing period of the plant.
Cutting preparation
Hardwood cuttings
When taking hardwood cuttings remove the leaves and in semi hardwood reduce the number of leaves by half. Cut the wood straight across just below a node or joint. Hardwood cuttings are normally between 100 to 760 mm long and may have either a heel of the older wood attached to the base, or a short section of the older wood at the base. These cuttings are prepared during the dormant season from late autumn to early spring and are made up from previous season's growth.
This type of cutting is used for woody deciduous plants such as Crepe Myrtle, Rose rootstocks and some fruit trees.
The cuttings should be healthy wood with ample supply of stored food as to nourish developing roots and shoots and placed in the rooting media with the aid of a dibbler stick.
Softwood cuttings
The cuttings for softwood should be 60 to 130 mm long and be of material with enough substance as to not deteriorate before the new roots appear. Cut below a node and retain the leaves on the upper portion. Place in a well-drained media and maintain a high humidity.
Soaking the cuttings and leaving them standing in water for long periods is undesirable.
Herbaceous cuttings
These cuttings are taken from succulent plants such as Geraniums and Coleus. The cutting should be 70 to 130 mm long with leaves retained on the upper end. As in softwood cuttings these require an environment of high humidity. Some fleshy cuttings ooze sap and may require a drying period for a few hours before being placed in the rooting media.
Leaf cutting
In these cuttings a leaf blade and petiole or part off is used to raise a new plant. The original leaf doses not become a part of the new plant as roots and shoots appear from the base of the leaf. In some cases roots appear from the severed veins.
Leaf-Bud cuttings
These cuttings incorporate a leaf, petiole and a small piece of the stem. These cuttings are an advantage where the plant uses the axillary bud at the base of the petiole for new shoot growth and maximises available propagation material, as each node will produce a new plant.
As in softwood cuttings these require an environment with high humidity and warmth.
Root cuttings
These cuttings are best taken from younger plants during late winter to early spring prior the new season's growth unless the dormant period is during summer.
Trim the roots as they are dug up and to maintain polarity cut strength at the crown end and a slanted cut at the distal end (away from the crown).
Root cuttings of small plants are placed in flats in lengths of 20 to 50 mm and laying horizontally on the surface of the soil. These may be lightly covered with sieved sand or media, watered and then placing a piece of glass or polyethylene over the container till roots / shoots appear.
Fleshy root cuttings
These cuttings should be 50 to 75 mm long and placed vertically in a well-drained sand media.
Keep the polarity correct and when the roots develop transplant the cuttings into a separate container.
Large root cuttings
These cuttings are 50 to 150 mm long and are tied up in bundles and placed in boxes of damp sand, sawdust or peat for about three weeks at a temperature of 4. 5 deg C. When taken out they should be planted in a prepared bed 50 to 80 mm apart with the tops of the cuttings level with or just below the soil level.
Note: Plants affected by this pest are the Rabbit Resistant plants not the susceptible plants.
PEST
NAME
Rabbits
Oryctolagus cuniculus & Sylvilagus species
ORDER
Lagomorpha
FAMILY
Leporidae
Description of the Pest
There are a eight different genera in the family classified as rabbits and include the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) which has infested Australia and the Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus spp.) which consists of 13-species with 9-species found in North America.
Generally rabbits have an egg-shaped body that can range in size from 200 mm to 500 mm long and weigh up to 2 kg. They have long ears that are adapted for detecting predators and powerful large hind legs allowing them to move fast. The body is covered in buffed, long soft fur that is brown or grey and the mouth has two sets of incisor teeth which are located one behind the other.
The cottontail rabbit grows up to 450 mm (18 in) tall and weighs 1.36 kg (3 lbs).
Appearance and Distribution of the Pest
Generally rabbits live in a variety of habitats including meadows, woodlands, forests, grasslands or deserts and wetlands living in groups with some underground in borrowers. The European Rabbit has been introduced to many parts of the world and in 1859 Thomas Austin brought 24 breeding pairs to Australia which subsequently escaped and quickly bred throughout Victoria and New South Wales and by the 1900's the rabbits had reached the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
Life Cycle
The life span varies with each species. Cottontails for example can live for one year to a maximum of three years in the wild but in captivity they can last for eight years, during which time they can raise between 2-6 litters per year and produce up to 18 kittens during the breeding season. In the cooler northern parts of North America the size and number of litters are generally smaller only 2-3 but in southern regions such as Mexico or Australia, European rabbits can produce 5-6 litters per year, normally commencing during spring time and continuing throughout the year. Each litter can consist of 2-8 or more kittens. Under ideal seasonal conditions a mature doe (female) can mate again several hours after giving birth and has a gestation period from 28-30 days.
Period of Activity
Generally rabbits eat throughout the year but in cooler countries such as North America they are more active during the spring to summer period but in warmer climates such as Australia rabbits can cause significant damage throughout the year.
Damage Caused
in Australia the effects of rabbits on the landscape has been a devastating resulting in the loss of an unknown number of plant species and a ring barking of young trees in orchards or forests. Major erosion problems have also resulted from warrens or plant denuded landscapes which are left vulnerable to the elements.
A rabbits generally will eat most flowers or the bark of woody plants, grasses of all types and most agricultural crops (vegetables).
Susceptible Plants
Rabbits mainly consumed grasses or garden vegetables and a broad range of ornamental plants. In cool climates where snowfalls rabbits eat twigs, bark and buds from the dormant plants. When rabbits are hungry they will eat most plants but attached to this file are rabbit resistant plants that are less palatable. Their resistance will vary depending on the stage of growth as new shoots are very desirable to rabbits.
Cultural Control
Control methods include trapping, hunting and exclusion with the use of fences, all of which had a marginal success. Many predators utilise rabbits as a food source for example foxes, feral dogs and cats, hawks or owls and human hunters.
Biological Control
In Australia to biological diseases have had reasonable success. In 1950 Myxomatosis was released into the rabbit population and resulted in the numbers dropping from 600 million to 100 million. Remaining populations became immune and steadily increased numbers to 300 million by the 1990s. The calicivirus was accidentally released in 1996 and culled populations significantly in regions of extreme heat but was less effective in cooler regions where the rabbits were exposed to a lesser calicivirus that immune them.
Chemical Control
Baiting and chemical repellents programs relied on the territorial habits of rabbits as they rarely forage further afield from their territorial areas.
Note
Landholders should seek advice from their local government agencies. This advice will include fumigation or destruction of warrens, fencing and shooting.
Average Lowest Temperature : -5º C 23º F
USDA : 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
This USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) hardiness zone chart can be used to indicate a plant’s ability to withstand average minimum temperatures. However, other factors such as soil type, pH, and moisture, drainage, humidity and exposure to sun and wind will also have a direct effect on your plant’s survival. Use this chart only as a guide, always keep the other factors in mind when deciding where, when and what to plant.
A plant's individual USDA zone can be found in the Plant Overview.
Climate Description
Cool Temperate
This zone has low winter temperatures and moderate summer temperatures with low humidity and cool nights. Frosts are severe with snow at higher altitudes.
Drought rarely occurs and wind is cold inland or wet on the coast.
Plant growth
Cool weather plants grow well.
| Dictionary | Growth Habit |
| Leaf Type | Botanic Flower Description |
| Leaf Shape | Flower Inflorescence |
| Leaf Arrangement | Fruit Type |
| Leaf Margin | Bark Type |
| Leaf Apex And Bases | Flower Description |
