Atherosperma moschatum
| Atherosperma moschatum | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 98' |
| Width: | 33' |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Atherosperma moschatum (common name: black sassafras)
Propagation: Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in early spring in a warm greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[1].
Cultivation: Requires a rich well composted lime-free soil in full sun or semi-shade[1]. Succeeds in acid and neutral soils[2].
Plants are not very hardy in Britain, requiring greenhouse treatment in most areas, but they succeed outdoors in a woodland garden in the milder areas of the country[3]. Another report says that plants are fairly hardy when grown in a sheltered position[4]. A tree at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens is 3 metres tall and flowers annually, whilst there are trees 6 metres tall in Cornwall[4]. Plants can tolerate short-lived frosts to about -5°c if they are well sited and sheltered from cold drying winds[1].
Plants come into flower when they are quite young. All parts of the plant are aromatic[2][5]. The flowers diffuse a sweet perfume whilst the nuts have a musk-like fragrance similar to nutmegs[5].
Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required[2].
Range: Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat: Temperate rainforests and moist gullies up to the sub-alpine zone[4][6][7].
Edibility: A pleasant tasting tea is made from the fresh or dried aromatic bark[8][9][10]. Some caution is advised in its use, see the notes on toxicity at top of the page.
Medicinal: Antiasthmatic, antirheumatic, aperient, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, tonic. A powerful poison, it is useful in treating rheumatism, syphilis and bronchitis[11][6][7].
Usage: An essential oil is obtained from the plant, it is used medicinally[12].
Wood - tough, close grained, fairly soft, low in tannin. Used for cabinet making, turnery etc[7][13].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Dioecious
Known Hazards: The bark contains a potential carcinogen[6]. Another report says that the whole plant might be poisonous[11].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lassak, Erich and Tara McCarthy. Australian Medicinal Plants.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Cribb, Alan. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins, 1981.