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Botannica #2 - Schinus molle Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

Bunjil: I cannot see any information that suggests to me that steps have been taken to resolve the issue/s associated with this placement - one or more of the following applies:

             - Cache Owner unable to maintain cache 
             - No response from the cache owner.
             - No cache to find or log to sign.
             - It has been more than 28 days since the last owner note.
             - Cache has been abandoned by cache owner/cache in disrepair

As a result I am archiving this cache to keep from continually showing up in search lists and to also prevent it from blocking other cache placements.

If you wish to repair/replace/make available the cache sometime in the next 28 days, just contact a reviewer (by email and include GC number in cache name) and, assuming it still meets the current guidelines, the reviewer will be happy to unarchive it.

If there are components or remnants of the cache and you haven't already done so, please return to the GZ and collect the cache (or remnants). We don't want to litter our environment with Geotrash.

Should you wish to replace the cache after 28 days has passed please create a new cache listing so it can be reviewed as a new cache.

More
Hidden : 4/23/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Welcome to Team GraMon's Tenth Cache
and the Second in the Botannica series for Plant and Garden Lovers and also of course for other cachers to enjoy.

Schinus molle
The Peppercorn Tree
American Pepper
Peruvian Peppertree
Escobilla Molle
Del Peru Pepper Tree
False Pepper - called this as the real peppercorns come from the plant Piper nigrum - a perennial climbing vine of the family Piperaceae, and is indigenous to the Malabar Coast of India.

The Plant Family
Kingdom - Plantae
Plants Subkingdom - Tracheobionta
Vascular Plants Superdivision - Spermatophyta
Seed Plants Division - Magnoliophyta
Flowering Plants Class - Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons
Subclass - Rosidae
Order - Sapindales
Family - Anacardiaceae Sumac
Genus - Schinus L. – Peppertree
Species - Schinus molle L. – Peruvian Peppertree

Growing Notes
The Peppercorn Tree is a large spreading tree growing to a height of 12m. It has drooping fern-like leaves with many leaflets which are aromatic when crushed. The flowers hang in clusters with male and female flowers on separate plants.
The flowers on the female trees develop into pink/red berries with a hard stone. The seed is very hard and germinates best when passed through the guts of birds.
A large number of seeds are then stored in the soil awaiting germination.
Many Peppercorn Trees end up falling down when they become older and hollow inside or are attacked by termites.
Mature trees are resistant to fire and drought and are able to sprout from the rootstock if damaged.
The Peppercorn Tree is widely planted in homestead gardens and stockyards in dry areas of NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
It has invaded lowland grassland and woodland and dry forest. It has been reported as spreading in riparian vegetation near Warwick in south-east Queensland and in old settlements in the Western Australian Goldfields region.
It is native to South America and has been planted as a street tree in southern Europe.
The Peppercorn Tree was listed for sale in nursery catalogues in Victoria in the 1870s and 1880s and is still available for sale from many nurseries.

The Nathalia Peppercorn Trees
The Peppercorn Trees in Nathalia are amongst the oldest in Victoria if not Australia and are listed in "The Register of Significant Trees of Victoria".
Unfortunately we could not find that interesting list online.
If you wish to visit the Nathalia Historical Society it is open the Second Sunday of the Month.

Schinus molle In The Wild
Whilst driving around caching you may notice a clump of these Schinus molle trees here and there but seemingly in the middle of no-where. There is a good chance that once there was a house or pub or school at the site. A good place to bring out your metal detector!.

The Cache
The above co-ordinates will have you at a wonderful old Schinus molle tree with the following plaque attached.

National Trust
Listed on The Register of Significant Trees of Victoria
Schinus molle var. areir
Pepper Tree


As you will see this old Schinus molle has many potential hiding spots - keep looking the cache there somewhere!
You can park your car in such a way so that you can hide while you are seeking.

Enjoy!

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Additional Hints (No hints available.)