Cornus australis
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Cornus genus in the family Cornaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
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.
Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, the following report refers to the closely related C. sanguinea. Contrary to some reports, the fruit is not poisonous, but the leaves can cause skin irritations to sensitive people[14].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
This species has the same uses as the closely related C. sanguinea[16]. These uses are listed below. Fruit - raw or cooked[3]. A bitter flavour, it can also have an emetic effect on the body[1][15][4]. It is not worthwhile[6]. The fruit is about 5mm in diameter[12]. An oil is obtained from the seed[11], it is edible when refined[17].
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Product or use
- Oil
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
This species has the same uses as the closely related C. sanguinea[16]. These uses are listed below:- The seed contains 45% of a non-drying oil[16], it is used in soap making and lighting[15][7][2][6][9]. A non-drying oil is also obtained from the pericarp, it is used for lighting[16]. The pericarp contains 19 - 35% oil[16]. A greenish-blue dye is obtained from the fruit[7][16]. The young stems are very flexible and are used in basketry[15][7][16][2]. Wood - tough, hard. Used for small items such as tool handles, turnery etc[4][13][6]. A good quality charcoal is obtained from the wood[6], the wood also makes an excellent fuel[6].
- Product or use
- Basketry
- Product or use
- Charcoal
- Product or use
- Dye
- Product or use
- Fuel
- Product or use
- Oil
- Product or use
- Wood
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- S.E. Europe to W. Asia.
- Habitat
- Limestone slopes in woodland in Turkey[20].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in an outdoors seedbed if there is sufficient seed[19][5]. The seed must be separated from the fruit flesh since this contains germination inhibitors[19][8]. Stored seed should be cold stratified for 3 - 4 months and sown as early as possible in the year[8]. Scarification may also help as may a period of warm stratification before the cold stratification[19][8]. Germination, especially of stored seed, can be very slow, taking 18 months or more[8]. Prick out the seedlings of cold-frame sown seeds into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow the plants on for their first winter in a greenhouse, planting out in the spring after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe side shoots, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, taken with a heel if possible, autumn in a cold frame. High percentage[18]. Layering of new growth in June/July. Takes 9 months[18].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in any soil of good or moderate fertility[1], ranging from acid to shallow chalk[12]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade[[10]. This species is closely related to C. sanguinea[4]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[12].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218
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
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
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
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00
Rosewarne experimental horticultural station. Shelter Trees and Hedges. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1984-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6
Davis. P. H. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press 1965-00-00