Practical
Plants

Elaeocarpus dentatus

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Elaeocarpus genus in the family Elaeocarpaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
18 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

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

Fruit - cooked. It is soaked, rubbed and sieved in order to remove the stalks and skins, it is then baked into a cake that has an oily flavour[10][11][2][5]. The fruit is also pickled and used like olives[7]. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter[8].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

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

A blue/black dye is obtained from the bark[10][11][2]. The bark is a good source of tannin[11][5].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Tannin

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
New Zealand.
Habitat
Lowland forests on North and South Islands, south to latitude 44° 18' south[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[8]. Seed can be very slow to germinate, sometimes taking 2 years or more[3]. 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 almost ripe shoots, August/September in a sandy soil in a frame. The leaves should be left on the stem.[1][8].

Cultivation

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

Prefers a fertile humus-rich well-drained soil[8]. Another report says that it requires a moist lime-free soil[6]. This species is said to succeed outdoors in our mildest gardens, especially if given a sheltered position such as a south or south-west facing wall[8]. It succeeds outdoors in a woodland garden in the mildest areas of the country[4].

References

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

    ↩

  2. 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

    ↩1↩2

  3. Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. Australian Native Plants. Collins. (Australia) 1988-00-00 ISBN 0-7322-0021-0

    ↩

  4. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  5. Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-340-508302

    ↩1↩2

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩

  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  9. Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. 1961-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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