Elaeocarpus dentatus
| Elaeocarpus dentatus | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-7.3 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 59' |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Elaeocarpus dentatus
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[1]. Seed can be very slow to germinate, sometimes taking 2 years or more[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 almost ripe shoots, August/September in a sandy soil in a frame. The leaves should be left on the stem.[3][1].
Cultivation: Prefers a fertile humus-rich well-drained soil[1]. Another report says that it requires a moist lime-free soil[4].
This species is said to succeed outdoors in our mildest gardens, especially if given a sheltered position such as a south or south-west facing wall[1]. It succeeds outdoors in a woodland garden in the mildest areas of the country[5].
Range: New Zealand.
Habitat: Lowland forests on North and South Islands, south to latitude 44° 18' south[6].
Edibility: Fruit - cooked. It is soaked, rubbed and sieved in order to remove the stalks and skins, it is then baked into a cake that has an oily flavour[7][8][9][10]. The fruit is also pickled and used like olives[11]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[1].
Usage: A blue/black dye is obtained from the bark[7][8][9].
The bark is a good source of tannin[8][10].
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
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.
- ↑ Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ Allan, Harry. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer Publications, 1961.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.