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SW London
A semi-mature, hardy individual who tries to get away with doing as little as possible in gardening as in life, still expects the best results & wonders why she is frequently disappointed! She likes to keep a photographic record of everything, good & frequently bad!

Wednesday 20 January 2010

The Bastard

Kew Gardens 17 Jan 2010 003

This is not a rant or a moan about some despicable individual despite the title, although I am sure I could manage a fair bit of it if pushed. No, this is about a tree; the Bastard Gumwood tree (Commidendrum rotundifolium).

I was happily listening to the radio whilst driving back from Norfolk yesterday when I heard the fascinating story of this poor bastard of a tree on St Helena, the last of its kind, which a scientist from Kew Gardens is trying to save. The problem is that the tree is not self-fertile so they are hand pollinating every flower in the hope that there will be some slight genetic mutation which would then allow self-pollination. The poor thing has also to be covered in netting to prevent pollination from a closely related species. Apparently it was thought this tree was extinct but it was re-discovered! I imagine it was trying to live out its last days in peace!

The news story can be found here.

I just loved the story.

The photo is part of the Japanese garden in Kew Gardens. I would not have one myself, too neat & tidy, but they are very calming to look at.

8 comments:

  1. Ssshh...say this very quietly.
    Is it really worth all the effort? It is obviously not a very genetically strong tree so maybe......
    Or is that mean?

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  2. I agree with James - maybe the fate of this tree has already been sealed? Survival of the fittest, and all that...

    Whatever a Small Bastard Cabbage Tree is, I want one!

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  3. When I read "The Bastard" and saw that gravel I thought you had created a gravel garden and that some bastard (probably of the feline variety) had crapped in it. I should have none of course that you were far too much of a Lazy Trollop to have bothered to make a gravel garden.

    PS. I know what you did last week.

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  4. I did consider calling this 'Leave the Poor Bastard Alone' as I do feel perhaps it should be left in peace!

    I am not sure I dare ask what I did last week. Have I forgotten?

    Oh & I do have lots of gravel in my garden but it is of the crazy mixed up variety. We, daughter & I, used to make patterns with the different colour/size stones, but hey, life is far too short.

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  5. Dontcha just want to run through all that gravel and mess it all up?

    Thanks for the info re the Wildlife photographer of the year hoo-ha. I updated my post yesterday with various links after hearing the news yesterday lunchtime. Spookily I was particularly thinking of you at the time because of your original comment about the winning photo. It just reinforces why I didn't like it in the first place!

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  6. A lazy trollop appearing on twitter... & keeping company with the likes of Ryan and James A-S...
    count me in.
    And if future, give lessons in doing as little as possible!

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  7. Thanks BAT. Sorry for not responding earlier but our internet disappeared for almost 24 hours.
    As for lessons on doing as little as possible, as a general rule I have found avoidance is the best technique.

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  8. I agree with James - maybe the fate of this tree has already been sealed? Survival of the fittest, and all that... blu-ray authoring

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