Characteristics
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1.2 m tall. The leaves are 2 m long. The flowers are green, yellow or orange. The fruit are twisted seed pods.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
|
| Growth support |
-
|
| Foliage retention |
evergreen
|
| Sexuality |
hermaphrodite
|
| Pollination |
-
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
0.3
|
| Mature height (meter) |
1.2
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
c3
|
Environment
It is a temperate plant. It grows on coastal cliffs and mountain slopes in New Zealand. It can grow in light shade. It is best in moist or wet soil. It can tolerate exposure to seaside conditions. It is hardy to hardiness zone 8. Hobart Botanical gardens.
| Light |
|
| Soil humidity |
|
| Soil texture |
|
| Soil acidity |
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
|
Usage
The roasted seeds are used as a coffee substitute. An edible gum is obtained from the base of the leaves. Caution: The roots are highly purgative.
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seeds. They can be slow to germinate. Plants can also be grown by division.
| Mode |
divisions
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
30 - 180
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
15 - 18
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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