AusBonsai

Hi there crazy kids.

Can anyone help me identify this little sucker? I honestly have no idea on this one but it can't be too common?

Notice the small berries in the last photo

John

Solved
By noahdendron - Alphitonia excelsa

Hi,
Looks like an Alphitonia excelsa to me. Very fast growing pioneer species. I could not imagine it making a good long-lived bonsai,but who knows?

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... leaves.jpg

What do you mean by a pioneer species?

Hi Jester and Welcome Noahdendron,

A 'pioneer' species is a term given to a rainforest tree species that is adapted to colonise recently disturbed areas. They often have large leaves, are fast growing and take up a lot of space very quickly. They don't invest a lot of photosynthates into wood and thus they are not always that long lived. Perhaps 20-50 years rather than 50-150 years for a rainforest tree. The seeds of many 'pioneers' are long lived- as in the case of Alphitonia.. In rainforest they come up in tree fall gaps and around the edges where there is more light, their seeds need light in the red edge of the spectrum to initiate germination. They wont germinate in shade. There are two Alphitonia that are common on roadsides and on old logging tracks, A. petrei and A. whitei. Alphitonia excelsa is not always strictly a pioneer and can be fairly long lasting in more open forests. The only way to find out for bonsai is to give it a go! Try to find out if it will shoot off old wood.
cheers
Ash

P.S. I just thought I would add as an edit- 'pioneer' is at one end of the rainforest tree spectrum and 'primary' at the other- but it is a spectrum with all shapes and forms in between.

Hey guys,

Ash, there are pioneer species in many habitats. Basically any heavily populated habitat. In sclerophyll, for example, Acacias are amongst the first to populate disturbed areas.

Pioneer plants are often used by bush regen. teams as a way of allowing the other native plants to naturally return.

Joel

Oh Absolutely Joel! I just realised how much an emphasis I put on 'rainforest' and 'tree' in my response Has anyone already tried growing Alphintonia as bonsai?
Ash

Jester,
I should have explained the term 'pioneer'. I was chasing my tail at the time which is a poor excuse.
Many thanks to the others whom explained the term well.

Hey guys thanks for the great response. The Alphitonia Excelsa is EXACTLY what I have. Thanks again. Consider this one [SOLVED]


Jester