Meliosma cuneifolia

Cultivation Details

Meliosma cuneifolia is not a very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to around -8°c when dormant^[1]. The plant is moderately hardy and is grown as an ornamental in the open under mild temperate climatical conditions; it is cultivated in N. America and in Europe, amongst others in the Kew Botanic Gardens^[1]. The pollen ripens and the anther-cells burst while the flower is still in bud, but the pollen is still unable to escape from the anther-cells as these are locked in the cavities of the staminodes. When the bud is fully mature, it explodes at the slightest touch, the stamens snapping backwards and flinging a puff of pollen into the air. When the flower is open, petals and stamens, having done their duty, very soon drop off; hence in a Meliosma panicle almost only buds and passed flowers are found, but very few intact open flowers^[1].