Articles
IMPROVEMENT OF THE ORNAMENTAL QUALITIES OF LEPTOSPERMUM BY INTER-SPECIFIC HYBRIDISATION
Article number
508_65
Pages
345 – 346
Language
Abstract
Most New Zealand flowering plants have small white flowers of limited ornamental interest.
One exception is Leptospermum scoparium (manuka). The wild form of this species also has small white flowers, but the discovery of very rare plants with red flowers and double petals has led to many ornamental cultivars of this species. Leptospermum scoparium also occurs naturally in Australia along with about 83 other Leptospermum species endemic to that country.
The Australian species have characteristics that can advance the ornamental use of Leptospermum beyond that which has been achieved with L. scoparium. Progress made in this direction by plant introduction, breeding, and selection undertaken at Lincoln, New Zealand in recent years has involved three phases.
One exception is Leptospermum scoparium (manuka). The wild form of this species also has small white flowers, but the discovery of very rare plants with red flowers and double petals has led to many ornamental cultivars of this species. Leptospermum scoparium also occurs naturally in Australia along with about 83 other Leptospermum species endemic to that country.
The Australian species have characteristics that can advance the ornamental use of Leptospermum beyond that which has been achieved with L. scoparium. Progress made in this direction by plant introduction, breeding, and selection undertaken at Lincoln, New Zealand in recent years has involved three phases.
Authors
W. Harris
Keywords
New Zealand, Australia, flower colour, foliage
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