|
|
 |
Home
 Plant Profiles |
|
|
| Richmond Birdwing Vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa) |
HOST BUTTERFLY: Richmond Birdwing (Ornithoptera richmondia).
HEIGHT: I have seen this vine so prolific that it has climbed to the top of the tallest rainforest tree and then reach across a creek to continue growing on the other side.
SHAPE: A very healthy vine will have many stems growing away from the main vine, sometimes forming an impenetrable wall of vine.
GROWTH AND FEATURES: Sometimes this plant is very slow to start. I have found that if you plant one as an understorey plant in an area of complete canopy cover and supply it with a piece of twine to grow up, it will not take long to reach the canopy. The section of vine in full sunshine should flower and set seed freely, provided you have the small pollinating midge that lives in the leaf litter. The small but distinctive pipe-shaped flower has a yellowish to reddish-brown throat.
FERTILIZER: As with all of my native plants, I prefer to fertilize with one of the processed chicken manures now readily available at most supermarkets and nurseries. Just add a handful every couple of months and then re-cover it with mulch.
WHY WAS THIS PLANT CHOSEN?: For the lowland areas of South-East Queensland and northern New South Wales up to a height of approximately 600mts. above sea level, this is the main hostplant for this magnificent insect.
Bob Miller
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
