Ehretia anacua
| Ehretia anacua | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 16' |
| Blooms: | Mid Fall-Early Spring |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Ehretia anacua (common name: anaqua)
Propagation: Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing it as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Sow stored seed in late winter or early spring. 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, July/August in a frame.
Division of suckers in the growing season.
Cultivation: Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained sandy loam in a sunny position[1]. Tolerates exposed positions[1]. Plants are shade tolerant in continental climates but they require more sun in maritime areas in order to ripen the wood[1]. Rich fertile soils encourage soft sappy growth which is then more susceptible to winter damage[1].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, but dormant plants have survived temperatures down to -13°c when growing in a suitable position. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K].
Spreads by means of suckers[2].
Range: South-western N. America - S.E. Texas to Mexico.
Habitat: Develops into a tree when growing in river valleys in fertile soils, it is also found as a shrub on dry barren ridges[3].
Edibility: Fruit - raw[4][2][5][6]. Sweet and rather juicy but it has a thin flesh[3]. The fruit is about 8mm in diameter[1].
Usage: Wood - heavy, hard, not strong, close grained, difficult to split. Used for tool handles, yokes, axles, wheel spokes etc[7][8][3][2].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall-Early Spring
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: E. elliptica. DC.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Vines, Robert. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press, 1987.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.