Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
| Dacrycarpus dacrydioides | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 20' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Dacrycarpus dacrydioides (common name: kahikatea)
Propagation: The seed can be very slow to germinate, often taking 18 months or more. It is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible[1]. 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. Give them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors.
Cuttings of short leading shoots, late summer in a frame[2]. Plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts. It side shoots are used as cuttings they will form prostrate plants[1].
Cultivation: Requires sheltered moist woodland conditions[3].
Plants are not very frost-tolerant and are only hardy outdoors in the mildest areas of Britain[2][4].
In their native habitat trees can reach 45 metres in height, but they are slow growing in Britain and rarely exceed 6 metres[5][6].
Range: New Zealand.
Habitat: Lowland forest, often dominant in swamp forests, North, South and Stewart Islands[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw. A sweet taste[8][9], it is palatable but with a slightly oily taste[10]. Also used as a masticatory[11] (this last report probably refers to the use of the resin).
A resin is obtained from the tree[9], it is used as a chewing gum[10].
Usage: Plants are fairly amenable to trimming and could possible be grown as a hedge in mild areas of the country[1].
Wood - yellowish, easily worked. Used for general carpentry and for paper pulp[2][12][13][14].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Dioecious
Also Known As: Podocarpus dacrydioides.
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 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ Rushforth, Keith. Conifers. Batsford, 1991.
- ↑ Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Mitchell, Alan. Conifers in the British Isles. Stationery Office Books, 1975.
- ↑ Allan, Harry. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer Publications, 1961.
- ↑ Laing, Robert. Plants of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd, 1907.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Brooker, Stanley. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press, 1991.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Crowe, Andrew. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton, 1990.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Howes, Frank. Vegetable Gums and Resins. Chronica Botanica, 1949.
- ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.