On Tue, 12 Nov 2002 23:14:03 GMT, Janet Baraclough
wrote:

Sigh. Here's what they list under "physical characteristics",for every
single plant name I've ever looked up on their database of 7,000.

"The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay)
soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils."

That is not empirically verified "information".It's horticulturally
meaningless fluff, waffle, space-filling junk; what does that suggest
about the accuracy of the rest of their plant "information"?

Who is waffling?

Actually you are not waffling. You are spewing venom like a harridan.
What did PFAF ever do to you?

Just to test your sweeping statement I looked up Rhododendron
campanulatum.

This is what they say:

An evergreen shrub growing to 4.5m. It is hardy to zone 5. It is in
leaf all year, in flower from April to May. The flowers are
hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated
by Insects.

We rate it 1 out of 5 for usefulness.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires
well-drained soil.

The plant prefers acid soils and can grow in very acid soil.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations
Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge.

Edible Uses None known

Medicinal Uses Disclaimer

Miscellany.
The leaves are mixed with tobacco and used as a snuff in the treatment
of colds and headaches that affect only one side of the head[240]. The
leaves are also used in the treatment of chronic rheumatism, sciatica
and syphilis[240].
The dried twigs and wood are used in the treatment of phthisis and
chronic fevers[240].

Other Uses None known

Cultivation details
Succeeds in most humus rich lime free soils except those of a dry arid
nature or heavy or clayey[1]. Prefers a peaty or well- drained sandy
loam[1].

Succeeds in sun or shade, the warmer the climate the more shade a
plant requires[200]. Requires a pH between 4.5 and 5.5[200].

Succeeds in a woodland though, because of its surface-rooting
habit[200], it does not compete well with surface-rooting trees[1].

Plants need to be kept well weeded, they dislike other plants growing
over or into their root system, in particular they grow badly with
ground cover plants, herbaceous plants and heathers[200].

There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental
value[200].

Plants form a root ball and are very tolerant of being transplanted,
even when quite large, so long as the root ball is kept intact[200].

Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[200].

Propagation
Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn
and given artificial light. Alternatively sow the seed in a lightly
shaded part of the warm greenhouse in late winter or in a cold
greenhouse in April.
Surface-sow the seed and do not allow the compost to become dry[200].
Pot up the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and grow on
in a greenhouse for at least the first winter.

Layering in late July. Takes 15 - 24 months[78].

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Difficult[78].
Cultivars
''
There are some named forms for this species, but these have been
developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses.
Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of
these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the
natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not
listed the cultivars in this database[K].

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the
Ethnobotany Database (sadly ftp only. The searchable web pages have
been pulled).
[G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN
taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources
or the The Gatherer where you can search many other sources all in one
go.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat
outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see
[200]).

[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.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and
unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be
obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes
and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[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.

[211] Coventry. B. O. Wild Flowers of Kashmir Raithby, Lawrence and
Co. 1923
A nice little pocket guide to 50 wildflowers of Kashmir. This is part
one of three, we have not seen the other two volumes

[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian
Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of
references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for
the casual reader.