Practical
Plants

Stipa tenacissima

Esparto Grass

a perennial member of the Stipa genus in the family Gramineae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Gramineae
Genus
Stipa
Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Material uses

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

A fibre from the leaves and stems is used in making paper, mats, ropes etc[6][8][9][2][3]. It is very strong[1] and is particularly used in making high quality paper[3]. The leaves and stems are harvested in the summer, cut into usable pieces and soaked in clear water for 24 hours[4]. They are then cooked in lye for 2 hours and beaten in a bell mill. The plant is a source of a vegetable wax[8]. No further details.

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Paper
Product or use
Wax

Environment

Range
Europe - Spain to N. Africa.
Habitat
Dry sandy calcareous or gypsaceous soils[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, 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 - sow March in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks, but make sure that the compost does not dry out. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. The seed can also be sown outdoors in April. Division 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.

Easily grown in an ordinary well-drained garden soil in full sun[1][5]. Succeeds in dry soils. Plants are fairly wind resistant[K]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[5]. The leaves of wild plants are often harvested and exported for their use in paper making[6].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9

    ↩

  3. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Bell. L. A. Plant Fibres for Papermaking. Liliaceae Press 1988-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  7. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  8. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

Edit this page