Coriaria myrtifolia
| Coriaria myrtifolia | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 6' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Coriaria myrtifolia (common name: redoul)
Propagation: Seed - sow February/March in a greenhouse[1]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[2]. 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, 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a fairly good loamy soil in a sunny sheltered position[3][4]. Succeeds in light shade[4].
Plants are hardy to about -5°c, succeeding outdoors in Britain from London and south-westwards[3][4]. The stems are often cut back by winter cold but the plants usually resprout from the base. This new growth does not flower in its first year[5].
The roots of plants in this genus bear nitrogen-fixing nodules[6]. Whilst much of the nitrogen will be utilized by the growing plant, some of it will become available for other plants growing nearby[K].
Range: Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat: Dry woods, hedges and rocky places[7][8].
Usage: A black dye and an ink is obtained from the leaves[3][9]. The bark can also be used[8], both the bark and the leaves are rich in tannin[10][11][12].
A fly poison is made from the crushed fruits[9].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: This plant is very poisonous[13][3], the poison having the same effect as alcoholic intoxication[8]..
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Heywood, Vernon. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica 15th edition. 1982.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.