Juncus procerus
a perennial member of the Juncus genus in the family Juncaceae.
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, there is a report that one member of this genus is possibly toxic to mammals[5].
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The stems are used in basket making, thatching, weaving mats etc[3][4]. They are also used for cordage[3][4].
- Product or use
- Basketry
- Product or use
- Thatching
- Product or use
- Weaving
Environment
- Range
- S. America - Chile.
- Habitat
- Not known
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Soil textures
- loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
- Salinity
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - surface sow in pots in a cold frame in early spring and keep the compost moist. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer if they have grown sufficiently, otherwise in late spring of the following year. Division in spring. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
We have almost no information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in this country. There is also some confusion over the name. The name given above is the one used in the reports of the plants uses but the same name with a different author is mentioned in Flora Europaea. In that book J. procerus Bianca. is given as a synonym for J. rigidus Desf. a plant found in salt marshes and on maritime sands in Italy and Sicily. It is possible that the reports on the plants uses actually refer to that species. The notes on cultivation listed below are based on the general needs of the genus. Easily grown in a moist soil, bog garden or shallow water[1][2]. Prefers a heavy soil in sun or light shade[2].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
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
Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291