Styphelia adscendens
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Styphelia genus in the family Epacridaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Epacridaceae
- Genus
- Styphelia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Height
- 0.2 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked[2][3][5]. Sweet and tasty[5].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Environment
- Range
- Australia - New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria.
- Habitat
- Sandy soils[3].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - probably best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. The seed can be very slow to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out in early summer. Cuttings can be taken though it is usually hard to find sufficient material[4].
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 judging by its native range it might succeed outdoors in the mildest parts of this country. Requires a peaty sandy soil and very careful watering[1]. Succeeds in poor soils[5].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4
Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.
Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00
Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8