Coriaria ruscifolia
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Coriaria genus in the family Coriariaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Coriariaceae
- Genus
- Coriaria
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 1 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
All parts of the plant, except the 'fruit' (actually the petals) are highly poisonous[11][4][6].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or used as a beverage[2][10][11][1][4]. The pressed fruit yields a very palatable juice, which is drunk raw or fermented into wine[7]. Use with great caution since most parts of the plant, including the seed[6], are very toxic and some reports suggest the fruit should not be used at all[2].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A black ink is obtained from the leaves, it can also be used as a dye[10][3][4]. The bark can also be used, it is rich in tannin.
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- Southern S. America.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- 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 - sow February/March in a greenhouse[12]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[5]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Fair percentage[12].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a fairly good loamy soil in a sunny sheltered position[11, 164, 200. Succeeds in light shade[8]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to about -5°c and succeeds outdoors from Sussex and westwards[8]. There is some confusion over the name of this species, some botanists unite this species with the New Zealand C. sarmentosa whilst others maintain that they are distinct[2][8]. The roots of plants in this genus bear nitrogen-fixing nodules[9]. Whilst much of the nitrogen will be utilized by the growing plant, some of it will become available for other plants growing nearby[K].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
? Flora of Chile. (in Spanish)
Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic Native Plants of New Zealand. Oxford University Press 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-19-558229-2
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00