Wednesday 8 August 2012

The Good snail

Let's take a look outside after the rain has finished caressing the earth, shall we?
Get your crocs on and let's head out to inspect the garden....... glistening from the raindrops that have just fallen.

Here is my Cardboard Palm (Zamia furfuracea). 
Many of my plant buddies know that I love and collect palms.
The cardboard palm is really a cycad, and not really a palm at all, but its growth habit is similar to a palm, hence the name. The leaves are hard like cardboard, and it grows best in moist well-drained soil in either full sun or shade.
It's also very poisonous, so much so, that no antidote for the poison has been found.

Wow.........what is that?????
My Cardboard palm has a visitor.


 Can you see it?  Don't be alarmed, this is a native tree snail (Orthalicus undulatus), one of the good snails.....does no damage at all. Just minds its own business, crawling over and under everything.



Carry on smartly Mr. Snail, and a top of the morning to you!!

6 comments:

  1. So, what if a cat nibbles on that plant. Is he "done for"?
    m.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark, the plant leaves are very HARD, so I can't see a cat munching on it, maybe a very bored cat, but yes, the cat would not be around after that.
      Brownie just lies next to it, keeping an eye out for Brazen.

      Delete
  2. That's interesting. I didn't know there were good snails. I don't think we have any here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We don't have many "good snails" left on the island now. The invasive Giant African Land Snail has taken over by storm. It's just like the ladybirds and fireflies I hardly see them any more.

      Delete
  3. If it's a Good Snail what does it eat?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a beneficial snail...feeding on epiphytic growths on trees. Mostly see them on citrus trees keeping the worrisome stuff in check.

      Delete

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