Dicksonia antarctica, a fern of The Tertiary

Dicksonia antarctica tree fern is native from the Australian states of New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. One of the most widely cultivated tree fern by gardeners around the world. Grows seamlessly into any type of soil, both acid and calcareous, provided with a good drainage, a substrate rich in well-decomposed organic matter and a constant supply of moisture in the soil and in the air. It lives well in shade or partial shade of trees, as in the wild is a fern understory. It originated in the tropical forests of the Tertiary with a warm and permanently moist.

Dicksonia antarctica new frond in early May. This and the following photographs were taken in the magnificent botanical garden called the Huerto del cura, part of the immense palm grove of Elche, located in the province of Alicante. All new fronds of ferns as they display  take this spiral form that follows the Fibonacci mathematical sequence. (I recommend enlarge photos with a double click)

Dicksonia antarctica about 25 years in the shadow of the beautiful palm trees from around the world that form the collection of this botanical garden. On arriving, is a small oasis of tranquility amid the bustle of the city of Elche. It live in complete harmony hundreds of species of palms, Strelitzia, cycads, zamias and cactus.

 Dicksonia antarctica trunk is actually a rhizome along with the dried remains of the petioles of old fronds. The 90 inches of the trunk give us an approximate age of 25 years, as this fern grows very slowly between 3'5 and 5 centimeters per year, somewhat faster in the wild where it can easily reach 15 -20 meters height.

Dicksonia antarctica crown with sprouting new fronds spring.

 Another Dicksonia antarctica slightly younger than the previous one with a trunk about 50 inches.

Fern crown before. The fronds may be sterile or fertile and are springing alternately at different times of year.

The fronds have a very short petiole and an ovate-lanceolate tripinnate blade formed by narrow and lanceolate pinnae.

 

 Dicksonia antarctica pinnae are also subdivided into lanceolate pinnules, inserted obliquely on the rachis of the pinna with a very short petiole.

 The pinnules are subdivided into their small sessile lobes, ie without petiole, finished in a very fine tip oriented toward the apex of the pinna.

 Underside of a pinna with mature sori covered by a bilobed indusium which are situated on the edge of the lobes of pinnulae.

Same seen from above sori nearer. The indusium is up leaving mature sporangia hovering about to unfold and disperse the spores.

Details of the sori of Dicksonia antarctica.

Already deployed and empty sporangium after dispersion of spores. It is very striking is the large number of cells in the ring.

 Spores of Dicksonia antarctica with a nice golden brown and measures quite large.

Tamarillo de Colombia, the Andean tomato

The Tamarillo of Colombia, Cyphomandra betacea or Solanum betaceum, also called tree tomatoes, sachatomate, chilto and Andean tomato is a fruit shrub of the Solanaceae family. It is actually a giant tomato reaches three meters in height and more than 7 years. It originated in the Andes where we can find small wild populations in Argentina and Bolivia. It is cultivated as a vegetable in Peru, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador. In recent decades its cultivation has spread to southern Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Ripe fruits of Cyphomandra betacea, very rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Tamarillo of Colombia adult three feet grown in an orange grove a few miles from the sea on the island of Mallorca. Unlike tomato, tamarillo of Colombia or tree tomato resists well the moderate cold with few frosts Mediterranean coastal areas. In particularly cold winters behaves as deciduous, losing leaves and bears in hibernation until temperatures rise in spring and then emerge again. Like all vegetables appreciates the contribution of well-decomposed organic matter either in the form of manure or compost. Fits any type of soil, where fertile and well drained. In the summers rainless need several waterings a week to keep well hydrated large leaves up to 30 centimeters. Easily reproduced by seeds that germinate quickly and the year it can begin to bear fruit.

 Its flowers come in clusters. They have five white petals and five yellow stamens. The leaves are very large and the veins are marked. Its blade is entirely and roped, that is, heart-shaped with the tip acuminate and is not subdivided into leaflets  as in the tomato. The petiole is long and thick. The leaves, especially the most tender, are covered with glanduliferous trichomes on both sides which give off a strong smell of tomato.

The fruits hang on long stems without thorns. Have the shape and size of a hen's egg. The fruit color varies from orange to deep red slightly bruised. The skin is smooth, thick and strong.

Under the skin is a thin layer of orange pulp surrounding the numerous seeds encompassed in a very juicy, translucent jelly sometimes tinged with red around each seed. The pulp of these fruits can be eaten like a teaspoon custard. Once peeled also can be eaten in salads like tomatoes or added to a tropical fruit salad. With its pulp can make a good sauce to add to rice, pasta and meat dishes, giving an intense tomato flavor very peculiar. In bakery can prepare delicious cakes with jam made from the pulp, such as a Swiss roll. Ice cream, sorbets and cocktails of Andean tomato are also delicious and very exotic.