Practical
Plants

Scorzonera tau-saghyz

Tau-Saghyz

a perennial member of the Scorzonera genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Material uses

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

The root contains up to 40% of a high quality latex[4][1]. This is extracted by means of maceration and is used to make rubber.

Product or use
Latex

Environment

Range
Europe - Ural Mountains.
Habitat
Dry areas, 500 - 1100 metres in the Ural Mountains where winters are long and cold with a short dry growing season[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
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 spring in the greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into relatively deep pots to accommodate the tap root. If growth is good, plant out in early summer, other wise grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Division in autumn or as growth commences in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.

Cultivation

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

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though one report says that it is probably adaptable to the British climate[2]. It is cultivated in Russia for the latex in its root[4]. The plant accumulates more latex each year[1]. Plants are slow to establish and are usually harvested after 5 years growth[1]. It does not usually regenerate after harvesting[1]. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any soil in sun or light shade[3].

References

  1. Polhamus. L. G. Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  2. Carruthers. S. P. (Editor) Alternative Enterprises for Agriculture in the UK. Centre for Agricultural Strategy, Univ. of Reading 1986-00-00 ISBN 0704909820

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

Edit this page