Coriaria sinica
| Coriaria sinica | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 16' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Late Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Nitrogen Fixer | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Coriaria sinica
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][2][4]. Succeeds in light shade[4]
This species is not very hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c though it can resprout from the base if cut back by the cold[4]. 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: E. Asia - China.
Habitat: Grassy hills and river valleys to 1500 metres. Occasionally found at higher elevations in stony and arid areas[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or used as a beverage[3]. As pleasant as bilberries[8]. Use with great caution since most parts of the plant, including the seed[8], are probably very toxic and some reports suggest the fruit should not be used at all[3].
The roots are antirheumatic[6].
The plant is hallucinatory in small quantities[6].
Medicinal: The leaves are anodyne, antiphlogistic, febrifuge, depurative, poultice and vermifuge[9][6].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The seed is poisonous[10][3] and so are the leaves[6]. Although we have no more information, it is reasonable to assume that all other parts of the plant are also toxic.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 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.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Wilson, Ernest and Charles Sargent. Plantae Wilsonianae.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.