Caragana brevispina
| Caragana brevispina | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 6 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 8' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Caragana brevispina
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[1]. It usually germinates in 2 weeks[K]. Stored seed should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water then sown in a cold frame[2][3][1]. If the seed has not swollen then scarify it and re-soak for another 12 hours before sowing[4]. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 3 weeks at 20°c[4]. Good percentage[5]. As soon as they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a 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, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame[3].
Layering in spring.
Cultivation: Succeeds in most well-drained soils, but prefers full sun and a light sandy dry or well-drained soil[6][5][1]. Does not require a rich soil[5], succeeding on marginal land[7]. Succeeds in acid or alkaline soils[7]. Established plants are drought resistant[7].
This species is hardy to at least -20°c[8], it prefers a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters so it does not grow so well in the milder western half of Britain[1].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[1].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[1].
Range: E. Asia - N.W. Himalayas..
Habitat: Higher forests, in the undergrowth of fir and oak forests or in open glades on dry ridges from 1500 - 2700 metres[9].
Edibility: Seed - cooked[7]. Small but produced in abundance. The seed of a plant seen at the Royal Horticultural Gardens, Wisley in Surrey in September 1993 was about twice the size of C. arborescens but it had a distinctly bitter taste[K]. High in protein, it has been recommended as an emergency food for humans.
Young buds - cooked as a green vegetable[10].
Medicinal: A decoction of the plant is taken in the treatment of aching joints[10].
Usage: Plants can be grown as a hedge, they are very spiny and provide an impenetrable barrier.
The extensive root system of this plant makes it useful for planting to control soil erosion.
Wood - hard, close grained[9]. An important fuel wood for people living at high elevations[10].
Pollinators: Bees
Notes: We would need to buy in the seed and could supply in the same year.
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Reports that this plant contains toxins have not been substantiated[11]. The occurrence of cystine in the seeds is doubtful[11].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bird, R. Growing from Seed Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan, 1989.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Natural Food Institute. Wonder Crops 1987.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Shrubs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.