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Aciphylla squarrosa
  • Speargrass

a perennial evergreen member of the Aciphylla genus in the family Umbelliferae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Aciphylla squarrosa has 0 edible uses listed
Aciphylla squarrosa has 0 material uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Root - cooked. Aromatic[1]. A very good taste[2][3].

The resin is used as a chewing gum[1].

Shoots and young stems[1]. No further details.

Unknown part

Gum

Leaves

Unknown use

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

The plant yields a semi-transparent resinous gum that is edible and also used in perfumery[4].

Unknown part

Gum

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

There are no medicinal uses listed for Aciphylla squarrosa.

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[5]. Stored seed should be sown in a greenhouse in late winter or early spring. Germination can be very slow. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter before planting them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Aciphylla squarrosa. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a perfectly drained gritty soil in full sun[5]. Easily grown in a moist but well-drained soil in full sun[6].

Hardy to about -10°c according to one report[5] whilst another says it is hardy to about -15°c[6].

Dioecious but female plants have occasional male flowers[5]. Male and female plants must normally be grown if seed is required. The flowers are sweetly scented[6].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Aciphylla squarrosa. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Aciphylla squarrosa.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Aciphylla squarrosa
Genus
Aciphylla
Family
Umbelliferae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3]
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
[4]
Botanic
[7][5]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    2.5 x 1.5 meters
    Fertility
    self sterile
    Pollinators
    Insects
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    dioecious











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Hodder and Stoughton ISBN 0-340-508302 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.1 Laing. and Blackwell. Plants of New Zealand. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd (1907-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
    7. ? Allan. H. H. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer, Wellington. (1961-00-00)


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    Facts about "Aciphylla squarrosa"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyUmbelliferae +
    Belongs to genusAciphylla +
    Has common nameSpeargrass +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +, Leaves + and Root +
    Has edible useGum + and Unknown use +
    Has fertility typeSelf sterile + and Insects +
    Has flowers of typeDioecious +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useGum +
    Has mature height2.5 +
    Has mature width1.5 +
    Has search nameaciphylla squarrosa + and x +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAciphylla squarrosa +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +