Thamnochortus insignis
Encyclopedia
Thamnochortus insignis is a species of grass-like restio of the family Restionaceae
, in Africa
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The seed comes in the form of a tiny nutlet inside the old flower, which by this stage has formed two small wings. This helps the wind to carry the seeds away from the plant. The seeds are produced in very large quantities by each female plant, but are not all viable; a large number of nutlets are empty inside. Why the plants expend all this energy to produce sterile seeds is not clear, but is particular to this genus as well as to the genus Elegia
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. It is excellent in pots and can be easily established outside in mild districts (in the Northern Hemisphere). It is hardy to -3ºC.http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/Events/londonlectures/southafricanrestio.htm
Restionaceae
Restionaceae, also called restiads, is the botanical name for a family of rush-like flowering plants native to the Southern Hemisphere.- Description :...
, in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
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Appearance
Plants are tall, grass- or reed-like tussocks with a diameter of 500 mm to 1 metre at the base and a spread of 3 metres or more at the top and up to 2,5 m tall. Male and female plants are separate and very similar when they are not flowering.Range
Thamnochortus insignis grows in dense stands in the southern Cape around Albertinia. It can now be found along the roadsides from Port Elizabeth to the Cedarberg, where the seed has been distributed by the trucks carrying the thatching material.http://www.plantzafrica.com/planttuv/thamnocortinsig.htmPropagation
The plants are wind pollinated with the male inflorescences in small tassels swaying in the wind, while the female flowers are at the base of medium sized bracts, which catch the pollen from the air and funnel it towards the small fringed styles of the female flowers.The seed comes in the form of a tiny nutlet inside the old flower, which by this stage has formed two small wings. This helps the wind to carry the seeds away from the plant. The seeds are produced in very large quantities by each female plant, but are not all viable; a large number of nutlets are empty inside. Why the plants expend all this energy to produce sterile seeds is not clear, but is particular to this genus as well as to the genus Elegia
Elegia
"Elegia" is a song by the British electro/rock band, New Order. Unusually for New Order, it is an instrumental and a waltz. It can be found on their third studio album, Low-Life ....
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In cultivation
This restio is widely cultivated both for its usefulness as a thatching material as its name shows.Gardens
Thamnochortus insignis is used as an ornamental plantOrnamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
. It is excellent in pots and can be easily established outside in mild districts (in the Northern Hemisphere). It is hardy to -3ºC.http://www.rhs.org.uk/WhatsOn/Events/londonlectures/southafricanrestio.htm