Cultivation of Orites Myrtoideus

Robert Blackhall-Miles

doi:10.24823/sibbaldia.2019.271

Abstract

Orites myrtoideus (Poepp. & Endl.) Engl. is an evergreen shrub in the family Proteaceae, endemic to the Andes of both Chile and Argentina. With a small distribution and increasing risks, direct conservation action has been recommended. Ex situ cultivation and subsequent translocation of populations may be an option for the conservation of this species. In recent documented history this species has been grown ex situ on only a small number of occasions. One plant was grown outside at Benmore Botanic Garden for a period of five years and another has been grown at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as part of the Arid Lands collections. A better understanding of its cultivation requirements has been deemed necessary before ex situ collections can be established.This study aims to give a broad overview of the germination and first 12 months of cultivation of this taxon with the aim of informing future ex situ cultivation and subsequent restoration initiatives.

Highlights

Orites myrtoideus (Poepp. & Endl.) Engl. is an evergreen shrub in the family Proteaceae, endemic to the Andes of both Chile and Argentina
The type specimen is held in the Missouri Botanical Garden Herbarium, with further specimens held at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG, Kew); the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE); the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University; the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris; and the Berlin-Dahlem Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum
This study has attempted to show the horticultural experiences of the initial stages of growth of Orites myrtoideus, outlining informal experiments undertaken to that end

Summary

A BST R AC T

Orites myrtoideus (Poepp. & Endl.) Engl. is an evergreen shrub in the family Proteaceae, endemic to the Andes of both Chile and Argentina. With a small distribution and increasing risks, direct conservation action has been recommended. Ex situ cultivation and subsequent translocation of populations may be an option for the conservation of this species. In recent documented history this species has been grown ex situ on only a small number of occasions. One plant was grown outside at Benmore Botanic Garden for a period of five years and another has been grown at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as part of the Arid Lands collections. A better understanding of its cultivation requirements has been deemed necessary before ex situ collections can be established. This study aims to give a broad overview of the germination and first 12 months of cultivation of this taxon with the aim of informing future ex situ cultivation and subsequent restoration initiatives

N T RO DUC T ION ANDCU LT I VAT ION H I ST O RY

C U LT I VAT IONOFORITESMYRTOIDEUS – THEFIRST 1 2 MONTHS 143

C ONSE RVAT ION STAT US

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS