The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

I assume this one is very easy but I cant work it out. Not sure what I am doing wrong as it is a very distinctive 3 thick leaved palmate with large teeth at the top half of the leaf. Is it a juvenile form of a pseudopanax ?

Hi Rhys, yes it is a Pseudopanax - three (or more) leaflets are common in juvenile forms and are sometimes also present on adult plants. Actual identity would depend on where it was found, but it looks like P. lessonii

Thanks Mike, it was in Eastbourne, Wellington.

More likely to be juvenile P. crassifolius then, unless has originated from a nearby garden

Do 5 finger and lancewood ever cross breed ?

Pseudopanax are known to cross breed and 5 finger and lancewood are one of the known hybrid combinations - see page 440 of Flora I if you can. The description there fits your plant.

Thanks Mike. I saw a bit of Flora 1 online, looks very complex but I will order it and see how I go.

BTW You mentioned John Salmon's 2 books for exotics a while back which I will buy. Is there anywhere in particular that would stock them as they are hard to find.

BBTW should I get his book on natives as well or is the John Dawson and Rob Lucas field guide that I am using enough ?

Hi Rhys, Flora I can usually be picked up very cheaply on line. It is complex - and dated in some parts, but it has a lot of good information in it. Salmon's books on exotic trees are the best that are available, but I wouldn't worry about his other books as they are now quite dated and Dawson and Lucas is very good. His native trees of NZ is good, but quite similar to Dawson and Lucas, but is a lovely book if you can pick it up cheaply (but then I just love the cover image!)

Thanks Mike, I have just ordered Flora 1 and Salmon's native trees. Even if it is similar to Dawson & Lucas it wont hurt to have some more photos. I couldn't find his exotics books in stock but have ordered the Reed field guide by his wife which I assume is a stripped down version of the two books which will do to get me started.

How annoying, the bookseller has now come back and said they don't have the Reed field guide to exotics and I cant find it anywhere else. I want it even more now !