Practical
Plants

Torreya californica

California Nutmeg

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Torreya genus in the family Cephalotaxaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Torreya
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
15 m
Spread
8 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Wind
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

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

Seed - raw or cooked[6]. The seeds are roasted and eaten[11]. They are rich in oil[2][4]. The ovoid seed is up to 2cm long[K]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[5][6].

Product or use
Oil
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

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

The nuts have been chewed as a treatment for indigestion[11]. A decoction of the nuts has been used in the treatment of tuberculosis[11]. The crushed seeds have been rubbed on the temples in the treatment of headaches[11]. They have also been rubbed on the body to cause sweating in the treatment of chills and fevers[11].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
TB

Material uses

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

The roots have been used as splints in basketry[11]. Wood - straight-grained, strong, light, soft, easily worked. Of no commercial value[9], though it is occasionally used for fence posts[14][9].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Secondary canopy

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California.
Habitat
Borders of mountain streams, cool shady slopes and canyons, 900 - 1400 metres[12][14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some of the seed should germinate in the following spring though much of it might take another 12 months. Stored seed requires a period of cold stratification and can take 18 months or more to germinate. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as growth is observed and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least the next couple of winters, making sure to pot them on into larger pots as and when required. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer when the plants are at least 20cm tall. Cuttings of half-ripe shoots in late summer[1]. Cuttings do not grow well[3]. Layering.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in ordinary garden soil, tolerating some lime[1]. Undemanding as to the soil pH[8]. Dislikes wind exposure[8]. Requires a sheltered position and either high humidity or a moist riverside soil[8]. Tolerates woodland shade very well[8]. One report says that trees are only hardy in the milder parts of Britain[1], whilst another says that trees are hardy in Britain at least as far north as Edinburgh[8]. This species is the only member of the genus that is fully adapted to cool maritime sites. It can actually grow faster in such a position than it does in the wild[8]. Trees in general grow better in the wetter western part of Britain[13]. Usually slow growing, though trees occasionally increase by 60cm in a year[7]. The bruised leaves release a powerful resinous smell[10]. The fruits are also aromatic[10]. The seed takes two summers to mature[9]. Trees often crop well at Kew, but there were no seeds formed in 1994[K]. A tree in fairly deep shade at Kew was carrying a good crop of seeds in the summer of 1996[K]. Plants are usually dioecious, but isolated female plants have been known to bear fruit in the absence of a pollinating male[3]. Plants are sometimes monoecious with dioecious branches. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required.

References

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩

  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↩6

  9. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  11. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  12. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

  13. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩

  14. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

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