Microseris scapigera
| Microseris scapigera | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Microseris scapigera (common name: yam daisy)
Propagation: Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in early spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring might be possible.
Cultivation: We do not have much information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country. The Australian form is said to be hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[1], though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. Plants are likely to require a well-drained soil in a sunny position.
This is a polymorphic species that is found in both New Zealand and in Australia. Some botanists have separated off the Australian form as a distinct species, M. lanceolata[2][1], which is here used as a synonym.
An alpine form in the Snowy mountains of Australia has fibrous roots too thin to be worth eating[3].
The plant has been suggested for commercial cultivation in temperate zones for its edible root[3].
Range: Australia - New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. New Zealand.
Habitat: Grassland and open places on North, South and Stewart Islands in New Zealand[2]. Loamy soils or moist clay up to the montane and sub-alpine zones in Australia[4]. Also found on salt pans[3].
Edibility: Root - raw or cooked[5][6][7]. Sweetish and moist[8] with a coconut flavour[4]. The root tastes like a sweet potato with an occasional hot taste[9]. It is said to be delicious[3]. The root is between 2 and 8cm long[3]. A favourite food of the Australian Aborigines, who ate the roots in quantity[3]. The root can be harvested all year round but it tastes bitter at certain times of the year, especially in early winter[3].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: M. forsteri. M. lanceolata. Scorzonera scapigera.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wrigley, John and Murray Fagg. Australian Native Plants. Collins, 1988.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Allan, Harry. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer Publications, 1961.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Low, Tim. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson, 1989.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ewart, Alfred. Recording Census of the Victorian Flora. 1923.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ Crowe, Andrew. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton, 1990.