Winteraceae

 

This small Family (of only nine genera) of ancient and fairly primitive woody plants has a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Hemisphere, from virtually the Antarctic Circle to the tropics, but with only a few species having a temperate climate distribution. The family is unusual in that the plants do not contain conventional xylem vessels for the conduction of water. The leaves, bark and fruits are generally aromatic and peppery and are often used as a condiment; edible oils are also extracted. The Family consists of evergreen trees and shrubs.

 

The fruit is a fleshy berry, with a coloured skin, which contains many seeds. These are extracted by maceration and fermentation in order to separate the seeds from the pulp. This is a significant task as the flesh appears to contain germination inhibitors and thus must be eliminated.

 

The seed contains a substantial endosperm and a developed embryo, which however is very small and requires a period of warmth to bring it to full maturity before germination proper can proceed – so consequently germination is often delayed.

 

Only three genera contain species with a temperate climate distribution – Drimys, Pseudowintera and Tasmannia.

 

Drimys

 

The genus Drimys occurs only in South America and contains eight species, it ranges from southern Mexico to Tierra del Fuego. Both D. andina and D. winteri have a southerly distribution in the temperate rain forest belts of Chile and Argentina and are suitable for cultivation in the UK. D. winteri has until recent years been represented in cultivation by a single (less than fully hardy) clone - probably since Victorian times - however there have been several collections made in the last twenty years or so and greater variation has been seen especially in relation to hardiness – the southern provenances being of much greater hardiness – but also in leaf shape and bark colour. The fruit is a bluish berry.

 

After embryo maturation which is usually achieved by the warm stratification of fresh, imbibed seed (42 days at 20˚C) the seed requires a chilling treatment of 56 days at 3˚C before germination at 18 to 20˚C.

 

Pseudowintera

 

The genus Pseudowintera contains three species which occur principally in New Zealand and are found in temperate rainforest communities. The main species found in cultivation in the UK is P. colorata from the South Island. The fleshy fruit is a soft, red-black berry with orange flesh which contains up to eight seeds. The seeds are extracted by maceration and fermentation and then washing clean. As the embryo may need maturing, an initial period of warm stratification for 42 days would be prudent and germination is enhanced and synchronised by chilling for 28 days at 3˚C; germinate at 18 to 20˚C.

 

Tasmannia

 

As a result of the modern determinations made by taxonomists, the genus Tasmannia has been separated from Drimys and includes about forty species which are distributed from the Philippines - south through Australasia to Tasmania with several species occurring in South East Australia. Apart from its geographical integrity, the genus is characterised by the fruit which is a two-lobed berry. The best known species, which is cultivated in the UK, is T. lanceolata (probably more widely known as Drimys lanceolata). This has a temperate climate distribution in South East Australia and Tasmania. It is dioecious. The fruit is a pea-sized, shiny, fleshy, edible, red-black berry containing 10 to 18 seeds. Successful germination depends on removing the seeds from the flesh of the fruit and treating the fresh seeds to warm stratification for 28 days at 20˚C, followed by 56 days of chill at 3˚C and then germination at 18 to 20˚C.