Condalia hookeri

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Rhamnaceae

Genus

Condalia

Life cycle

perennial

Woodiness

woody

Height

2 m

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked^[5][6]. Sweet and fleshy with a pleasant sweet flavour, it is mainly used for making jellies^[8][5][7]. The fruit has been boiled, then strained and the juice boiled again to make a syrup^[6]. There are no edible uses listed for Condalia hookeri.

Material uses

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

A blue dye is obtained from the wood^[1][3]. Wood - very heavy, hard, dense, close-grained^[4][1]. The dense heartwood is a brilliant red colour and has been used to make ornamental objects^[3]. It burns with an intense heat and is valued as a fuel^[4][1].

Environment

Range

South-western N. America.

Habitat

High sandy banks, often covering large areas with dense, impenetrable chaparral^[4]. Dry soils, especially on limestone^[1].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

light shade

Water

moderate

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

intolerant

Cultivation

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

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. However, judging by its native range, it could succeed outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. A good bee plant^[1]. 149

Related plants

• Berchemia flavescens
• Berchemia lineata
• Berchemia racemosa
• Ceanothus species

References

1. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

2. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

3. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

   • Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
   ↩1↩2

4. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

   ↩1↩2↩3

5. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press ISBN 0-292-78958-3 (1987-00-00)

   • ISBN 0-292-78958-3
   ↩1↩2

6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)

   • ISBN 0-88192-453-9
   ↩1↩2

7. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J [Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas] Botanical Research Institute, Texas. (1999-00-00)

   • Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
   ↩

8. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. ISBN 0-486-20278-X (1965-00-00)

   • ISBN 0-486-20278-X
   ↩