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Plants

Cotoneaster racemiflorus

Black-Wood

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Cotoneaster genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
2.4 m
Fertility
Flies, Midges
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Midges

Uses

Edible uses

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

Yields a manna-like substance called shir-khist, it is rich in sugars[12][13][7]. It contains about 13% sacchrose, 37.5% dextrose[2][7]. No details of which part of the plant yields the manna, it is most likely to be the stem.

Plant part
Sap
Product or use
Manna

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The plant is aperient, expectorant and stomachic[10].

Product or use
Aperient
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

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

A rose-tan dye is obtained from the fruit[6]. The wood is used in basket making.

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
N. Africa to W. and C. Asia.
Habitat
Shrubby thickets on stony slopes[14]. To elevations of 2400 metres in Kashmir[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed. Members of this genus hybridize freely so, if you require seed that breeds true, it is important to obtain it from a known wild source or from a controlled fertilization of garden plants. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame, when it will usually germinate in the spring[3][9]. Stored seed germinates faster if given 3 months warm stratification at 15°c and then 3 months cold stratification at 4°c[5]. The seed usually germinates within 1 - 18 months at 15°c but it can take 2 years[5]. Pot the seedlings up as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into nursery beds or into their permanent positions when they are more than 10cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame[3][9]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current year's growth, preferably with a heel, November in a frame.

Cultivation

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

An easily grown plant, it prefers a good soil but also does well in poor soils[1][3][9]. It thrives in lime and is also happy in peaty soils[1]. It succeeds in any soil that is not marshy or waterlogged[3][9]. Succeeds in dry soils[8]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or semi-shade but does not fruit so freely in a shady position[3][9]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[9]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[9]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[9]. There are several sub-species[9]. The flowers, when inhaled near to, have an unpleasant smell like decaying fish[11]. They are very attractive to bees whilst the fruit is a good winter food source for many species of birds[9]. Trees are notably susceptible to honey fungus[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  4. Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00

    ↩

  5. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  6. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  8. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

  10. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  11. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

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

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  14. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

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