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Desfontainia spinosa

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Desfontainia genus in the family Loganiaceae.

248px
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
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • partial shade
    Partial 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
  • very acid,acid,neutral
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    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
Desfontainia spinosa has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

There are no edible uses listed for Desfontainia spinosa.

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Desfontainia spinosa.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The leaves are narcotic and have been used medicinally in Chile[1]. More research needs to be carried out into the medicinal virtues of this plant[1]. The sub-species D. spinosa hookeri is usually employed[1].

Unknown part

Miscellany
Narcotic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in spring in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to become dry. Grow on the seedlings in a bright filtered light[2]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Requires humid conditions and bottom heat at 16°c[2]. Overwinter in a cold frame and grow on for another year before planting out[2].

Division of suckers in the dormant season[3].

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



Cultivation

Requires a humus-rich moisture-retentive acid soil in a sheltered position in partial shade[2]. Grows well in sandy soils as long as there is plenty of humus present[4]. Intolerant of alkaline soils and of water-logging[3]. Dislikes drought[2]. Plants like growing with their roots in the shade but their stems reaching up into the light[4].

This species is not fully hardy in Britain, plants tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c when sheltered from cold drying winds[2]. They grow best along the west coast of the country, especially in Scotland and N. Ireland[5]. The sub-species D. spinosa hookeri.(Dun.)Reiche. is usually employed for its medicinal virtues[6]. There is at least one named variety selected for its ornamental value[2]. The flowers are softly honey-scented[4]. A slow-growing plant[3].

Any pruning to retain shape is best done in the spring[2].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Desfontainia spinosa. 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 Desfontainia spinosa.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Desfontainia spinosa
Genus
Desfontainia
Family
Loganiaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
[1]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[5][2]
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
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
Shade
partial shade
Soil PH
very acid, acid, neutral
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
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
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    slow
    Mature Size
    2.5 x 1.5 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.



    "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista ISBN 0-289-70864-8 (1979-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.8 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.2 Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. ISBN 0-670-82929-3 (1990-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
    6. ? Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)

    "image:Desfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Desfontainia_spinosa&oldid=76844"
    Facts about "Desfontainia spinosa"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLoganiaceae +
    Belongs to genusDesfontainia +
    Has binomial nameDesfontainia spinosa +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has growth rateSlow +
    Has hardiness zone8 +
    Has imageDesfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height2.5 +
    Has mature width1.5 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useMiscellany + and Narcotic +
    Has primary imageDesfontainia spinosa-cropped.jpg +
    Has search namedesfontainia spinosa +
    Has shade tolerancePartial shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceVery acid +, Acid + and Neutral +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameDesfontainia spinosa +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Desfontainia spinosa + and Desfontainia spinosa +