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Azara microphylla

Common name:		Family:	Flacourtiaceae
Author:	Hook.f.	Botanical references:	11, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	S. America - Chile and S. Argentina.
Habitat:	Lakesides and along the edges of Nothofagus forests[200].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	1	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	microphylla = small leaved
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Violales. Flacourtia family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen shrub growing to 6m by 5m at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone 8 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from February to April. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 1/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Secondary, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit[123]. No further details are given. The fruit is very small, about 3mm in diameter according to one report[200] and about 5mm according to another[219].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

None known

Cultivation details

Prefers a position in sun or light shade in a deep humus rich soil[200], but succeeds in ordinary garden soil[134]. Succeeds in almost any soil so long as it is not very wet or very dry[202]. Flowers better in a warm sheltered position[200]. Plants are subject to windburn if they are not in a sheltered position[200].
This species is generally hardy in the open in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about -15° c[184], though young plants are less hardy[219]. The new growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts[202].
Cultivated for its edible fruit in Chile[123].
The flowers are sweetly fragrant and vanilla scented[184, 245].

Propagation

Seed - can be sown in a greenhouse or cold frame at any time of the year, though late winter or as soon as the seed is ripe are probably the best times to sow[134]. It usually germinates within 1 - 3 months at 15° c, though it can take 18 months[134]. When large enough to handle, pot the seedlings up into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and consider giving them some protection from the cold for their first winter or two outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[202].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, 7 - 10cm with a heel, November in a cold frame[78]. Takes 12 months[78].
Layering in spring. Takes 6 - 9 months[78].

Scent

Flowers: Fresh: The flowers are sweetly fragrant and vanilla scented.

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Flacourtiaceae.

To be included in the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[123] ? Encyclopaedia Britannica. 15th edition.
It contains a few things of interest to the plant project.

[134] Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[202] Davis. B. Climbers and Wall Shrubs. Viking. 1990 ISBN 0-670-82929-3
Contains information on 2,000 species and cultivars, giving details of cultivation requirements. The text is terse but informative.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963

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