Wednesday, 8 November 2017

Magnolia grandiflora, commonly known as the southern magnolia or bull bay, is a tree of the family Magnoliaceae native to the southeastern United States.



Flowering at Curepipe Forest Nursery October- November

Beauty & Fragrance combined

Lovely flower

Bull bay Evergreen

















Propagation of critically Endangered Ficus laterifolia ( Fig tree ) from Cuttings
 Ficus laterifolia is a species of Fig tree in the family Moraceae. It is endemic to Mauritius. Very few are known in the wild, One tree is found at the Curepipe Forest nursery compound and one at Holywood, Vacoas, both growing on River reserves.

Propagation has been effected from cuttings  but out of 400 cuttings only 3  plants were obtained

Cuttings in small polythene bags  & sowing crate

rooting and  other parts develop quicker in sowing crates
Transplanting in Xtra large polythene bags

Transplanting requires dexterity to avoid roots damage
Transplant

Transplanting completed

plant growing healthily

Watering regularly in Green House





plant  kept in Greenhouse for hardening  prior to planting out
plant 2 years after planting 

Fig tree Ficus laterifolia

Visit us at Curepipe call 57821804 you are most welcome

Ficus laterifolia bearing fruits ( not edible )

Saturday, 4 November 2017

Tambalacoque propagation

I am sharing my experiences of Plant propagation of Endemic plants
Sideroxylon grandiflorum ( Tambalacoque ), Crtically Endangered in the RED IUCN list

Sideroxylon grandiflorum, known as tambalacoque or dodo tree, is a long-lived tree in the family Sapotaceae, endemic to Mauritius. It is valued for its timber. 


Fruits on  Parent tree


Monitoring of  Tambalacoque seeds at Sept Cascades


  • Cleaned and treated seeds

    Seed collection



Sowing in Greenhouse


germination after 4 months

2 month old plantule




two year old tambalacoque planted 
at Greenhouse compound
3 year old plant

Friday, 3 November 2017

Air-layering of Elaeocarpus bojeri (Bois Dentelle)

Air-layering is a plant propagation technique for woody plants that allows us to root branches  while still attached to the parent or mother plant.  I have used this method to propagate  the Critically Endangered plant species, Elaeocarpus bojeri at the Greenhouse of the Forestry Service, at Curepipe. This plant is in the RED list of IUCN, found only at 2 places in the wild
Selecting branch for air-layering


Air-layering at Mon Vert

after 6 months rooting system well developped


propagule  detached from mother plant using a sharp shear

Baby plant , a clone

Removing plastic cover to expose roots prior to potting

potting the baby plant at Green House

potting completed

Baby plant with seeds and flowers

air-layered baby plant left for hardening in Green House

 Plant kept in Shade House for 3-6 month before planting out in field