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Microseris scapigera - (Sol. ex Cunn.)Sch.Bip.

Common Name Yam Daisy
Family Asteraceae or Compositae
USDA hardiness Coming soon
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grassland and open places on North, South and Stewart Islands in New Zealand[44]. Loamy soils or moist clay up to the montane and sub-alpine zones in Australia[154]. Also found on salt pans[193].
Range Australia - New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. New Zealand.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Full sun
Microseris scapigera Yam Daisy


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mike_Bayly
Microseris scapigera Yam Daisy

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Microseris scapigera is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft). The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

M. forsteri. M. lanceolata. Scorzonera scapigera.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root - raw or cooked[2, 46, 61]. Sweetish and moist[144] with a coconut flavour[154]. The root tastes like a sweet potato with an occasional hot taste[173]. It is said to be delicious[193]. The root is between 2 and 8cm long[193]. A favourite food of the Australian Aborigines, who ate the roots in quantity[193]. The root can be harvested all year round but it tastes bitter at certain times of the year, especially in early winter[193].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We do not have much information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors at least in the milder areas of the country. The Australian form is said to be hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[157], though this cannot be translated directly to British gardens due to our cooler summers and longer colder and wetter winters. Plants are likely to require a well-drained soil in a sunny position. This is a polymorphic species that is found in both New Zealand and in Australia. Some botanists have separated off the Australian form as a distinct species, M. lanceolata[44, 157], which is here used as a synonym. An alpine form in the Snowy mountains of Australia has fibrous roots too thin to be worth eating[193]. The plant has been suggested for commercial cultivation in temperate zones for its edible root[193].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in early spring in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter, planting them out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring might be possible.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

AUSTRALASIA: Australia (Tasmania), New Zealand

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Microseris nutansYam Daisy, Nodding microserisPerennial0.3 0-0  LMHNM10 
Microseris proceraYam DaisyPerennial0.3 -  LMHNM20 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(Sol. ex Cunn.)Sch.Bip.

Botanical References

44154

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

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Subject : Microseris scapigera  
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