Cotoneaster racemiflorus
| Cotoneaster racemiflorus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 8' |
| Speed: | Moderate |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Cotoneaster racemiflorus (common name: black-wood)
Propagation: Seed. Members of this genus hybridize freely so, if you require seed that breeds true, it is important to obtain it from a known wild source or from a controlled fertilization of garden plants. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, when it will usually germinate in the spring[1][2]. Stored seed germinates faster if given 3 months warm stratification at 15°c and then 3 months cold stratification at 4°c[3]. The seed usually germinates within 1 - 18 months at 15°c but it can take 2 years[3]. Pot the seedlings up as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into nursery beds or into their permanent positions when they are more than 10cm tall.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame[1][2].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel, November in a frame.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it prefers a good soil but also does well in poor soils[4][1][2]. It thrives in lime and is also happy in peaty soils[4]. It succeeds in any soil that is not marshy or waterlogged[1][2]. Succeeds in dry soils[5]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade but does not fruit so freely in a shady position[1][2]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[2].
A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[2].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[2]. There are several sub-species[2].
The flowers, when inhaled near to, have an unpleasant smell like decaying fish[6]. They are very attractive to bees whilst the fruit is a good winter food source for many species of birds[2].
Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[2].
Range: N. Africa to W. and C. Asia.
Habitat: Shrubby thickets on stony slopes[7]. To elevations of 2400 metres in Kashmir[8].
Edibility: Yields a manna-like substance called shir-khist, it is rich in sugars[9][10][11]. It contains about 13% sacchrose, 37.5% dextrose[12][11]. No details of which part of the plant yields the manna, it is most likely to be the stem.
Medicinal: The plant is aperient, expectorant and stomachic[13].
Usage: A rose-tan dye is obtained from the fruit[14].
The wood is used in basket making.
Pollinators: Flies, midges
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Pollution: Tolerates environmental pollution.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Also Known As: C. fontanesii. C. nummularia. Mespilus racemiflora.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ Singh, Gurcharan and Premnath Kachroo. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1976.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.