Stipa tenacissima
| Stipa tenacissima | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Native to: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Stipa tenacissima (common name: esparto grass)
Propagation: Seed - sow March in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks, but make sure that the compost does not dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. The seed can also be sown outdoors in April.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Cultivation: Easily grown in an ordinary well-drained garden soil in full sun[1][2]. Succeeds in dry soils. Plants are fairly wind resistant[K].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[2].
The leaves of wild plants are often harvested and exported for their use in paper making[3].
Range: Europe - Spain to N. Africa.
Habitat: Dry sandy calcareous or gypsaceous soils[4].
Usage: A fibre from the leaves and stems is used in making paper, mats, ropes etc[3][5][6][7][8]. It is very strong[1] and is particularly used in making high quality paper[8]. The leaves and stems are harvested in the summer, cut into usable pieces and soaked in clear water for 24 hours[9]. They are then cooked in lye for 2 hours and beaten in a bell mill.
The plant is a source of a vegetable wax[5]. No further details.
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Macrochloa tenacissima. (L.)Kunth.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Heywood, Vernon. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
- ↑ Bell, Lilian. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press, 1988.