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Useful Temperate Plants

Parthenium argentatum

A.Gray.

Asteraceae


The Temperate Database is in the process of being updated, with new records being added and old ones being checked and brought up to date where necessary. This record has not yet been checked and updated.

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Guayule

No Image.

General Information

Parthenium argentatum is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 1.00 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.

Range

South-western N. America - Mexico to Texas.

Habitat

Limestone ridges and highly calcareous soils[
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
] in arid and semi-arid habitats[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Properties

HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsInsects, wind, Apomictic
Self-fertileYes
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Requires a very well-drained soil in full sun[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a sandy soil but cultivated plants succeed on most soils except clay[
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
]. Established plants are very drought resistant[
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
].
This species is not very hardy in Britain, plants dislike winter temperatures falling below -10°c and suffer damage below -15°c[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
]. In particular, they dislike fluctuating winter temperatures and excessive winter wet[
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
]. Plants grow well but give a poor yield of latex when growing in areas of higher rainfall[
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
]. (This refers to the very low levels of rain the plant experiences in its native habitat). More rubber is produced if the plant is prevented from flowering[
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
]. British summers are possibly not warm enough for this plant to thrive[
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
].
Hybrids between Parthenium argentatum and P. incanum have been noted[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A source of rubber obtained by mechanical maceration of the roots and/or stems.[
61
Title
A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
Publication
 
Author
Usher. G.
Publisher
Constable
Year
1974
ISBN
0094579202
Description
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
,
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
,
171
Title
Economic Botany.
Publication
 
Author
Hill. A. F.
Publisher
The Maple Press
Year
1952
ISBN
-
Description
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some detail about the plants it does cover.
]. Yields of up to 240 kilos per hectare per year are possible (harvested when plants are 5 years old)[
110
Title
Rubber: Botany, Cultivation and Utilization.
Publication
 
Author
Polhamus. L. G.
Publisher
Leonard Hill; London.
Year
1962
ISBN
 
Description
A lot of information on rubber production. It also looks at the major rubber producing plants and some of the less well known ones, though not in great detail. It deals mainly with tropical plants with a small section on temperate plants.
].

Propagation

Seed - we have no details for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in early spring. Only just cover the seed. 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.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-12-06. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Parthenium+argentatum>

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