Practical
Plants

Ampelodesmos mauritanicus

a perennial member of the Ampelodesmos genus in the family Gramineae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Gramineae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
3 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are used to make a rope[4] and are also used in papermaking[1].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Paper

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Dry places, mainly near the coast[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest surface sowing the seed in a greenhouse in spring. Do not allow the compost to dry out. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse, planting them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring as the plant comes into growth. The divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions, though it might be safer to get them established and growing well in pots first.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a fertile well-drained but moist soil in a sheltered sunny position[2]. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they only succeed outdoors in the milder parts of the country tolerating temperatures down to between -5 to -10°c[2].

References

  1. Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  3. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

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  4. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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