Lagarostrobus franklinii
| Lagarostrobus franklinii | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 49' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Lagarostrobus franklinii (common name: huon pine)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a freely draining compost. Germination usually takes place within 1 - 3 months at 20°c[1]. Another report says that the seed can be very slow to germinate and that it is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[2]. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible.
Cultivation: Requires a light, freely draining soil[1] in a sheltered position with protection from cold winds[3]. Requires high rainfall and humidity if it is to succeed[2]. This species tolerates shade and probably requires it in drier areas if the tree is to survive[4][2]. It requires warm summers if it is to grow well in this country, and even then it is very slow growing[5][2].
Plants are only hardy in the milder areas of the country[5][4]. An 80 year old tree at Bodnant was 6 metres tall in 1970[6]. Plants are hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[7] but this cannot be translated directly to British gardens because of our cooler summers and colder, wetter winters.
Range: Australia - S. and W. Tasmania.
Habitat: Banks of rivers and swampy flats to 750 metres[5][8].
Edibility: The source of an essential oil, called Huon pinewood oil, that has been recommended for the production of vanillin[9][10]. This can be used as a flavouring in ice creams, confectionery, beverages etc[10]. It is usually obtained by steam distillation of the wood[11].
Usage: The essential oil (see above) is also used in medicinal soaps, toilet water, as a preservative in casein paints etc[12][9][11].
Wood - fairly hard, straight grained, light, soft, strong, aromatic. It is very durable, containing a strongly scented resin that repels insects. Used for construction, furniture etc[9][11][8].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Dioecious
Also Known As: Dacrydium franklinii. Hook.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bird, Alfred. Growing from Seed Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan, 1990.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Taylor, Jane. The Milder Garden. Dent, 1990.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Mitchell, Alan. Conifers in the British Isles. Stationery Office Books, 1975.
- ↑ Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Holliday, Ivan and Ron Hill. A Field Guide to Australian Trees. Frederick Muller, 1974.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Cribb, Alan. Useful Wild Plants in Australia. William Collins, 1981.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.