About the Catchment Area : Flora and Fauna

Christmas Bush

This species is commonly confused with olives. It is Important to be able to recognise this plant when undertaking olive control so that it is not accidentally targeted.

Description and Distribution:
Medium to tall shrubs through to small trees. Spines can be found on some varieties. It is riparian/terrestrial species, commonly associated with a variety of Eucalypt woodlands in the upper Onkaparinga catchments, the Noarlunga Embayment, and the Southern Coastal Catchments. Also through most regions of South Australia. Also Qld., N.S.W., Vic., Tas. and W.A..

Flowers:
White in clusters at the tops of the branchlets. Five petals recurved from the base.

Flowering Time:
December, January, February.

When to Collect Seeds:
Fruiting capsules in terminal bunches ripen from January-February in the northern and drier regions of the State through to March-April in the cooler or high rainfall areas. Seed capsules split when ripe. Seeds can be collected on maturity when colour goes from pale green to brown.

Seed Shape and Size:
One seed per capsule. Both the capsule and seed have a distinctive kidney shape. The seed is quite flat and about 3mm wide.

Hints on Seed Collection:
Wear gloves when collecting seed. Using a long rod with a hook on the end to bend over branches is helpful. Shaking branches will release seed easily when fruits are ripe. By placing a paper bag over the end of the branch and shaking, much seed can be released. Avoid windy days when collecting, also collect during warmest time of day. Avoid moisture. Sieve all collected material through screens to remove pods and leaves.

Propagation Hints:
Sow fresh seed, before sowing stratify seed 3-4 weeks at 2-4°C. Sprinkle seed over propagating mix, or soils from where the seed was collected from. Cover lightly with soil or gravel. Keep moist, place out in an open sunny position. Important to sow late Autumn – early Winter. Sow directly into tube or container, avoid pricking out seedlings. Useful and important plant for sowing into broadacre direct seeding programmes. Grow provenance type seed back into the areas of seed origin as there are large variances. For low rainfall areas, sow early Winter. For high rainfall areas, sow late Winter.

Habitat and Ecology:
Flowers are insect pollinated. Usually an undershrub associated with a range of woody shrubs but predominatly Acacias and Ecualypts. Bursaria are one of the most important shrubs for attracting insects and butterflies when in flower and a large array of insects, beetles, spiders etc. when fruiting capsules are mature. Bursaria also supply an important source of nectar to native birds over the dryer summer months when little else is in flower (hence the common name Christmas Bush). Leaves of these shrubs contain one of the alkaloid chemicals and are often eaten by Scarab Beetles. The flowers are insect pollinated. This species and its many varieties should be given high priority in vegetation programmes.