Aristotelia chilensis

Aristotelia chilensis, known as maqui or Chilean wineberry, is a tree species in the Elaeocarpaceae family native to South America in the Valdivian temperate forests of Chile and adjacent regions of southern Argentina. Limited numbers of these trees are cultivated in gardens for their small edible fruits. Wild-harvested fruits are commercially marketed. The species has drawn attention for its forensic potential as it is reported to be among the first plants to grow around pig carcasses, which are experimental substitutes for human corpses, in southern Chile.

Description

A large shrub or small tree. It grows 4.5-7 m high. The leaves are opposite and have teeth around the edge. The leaves are leathery and 10 cm long. Some leaves turn red in winter. The stems are reddish. The flowers occur in loose branched arrangements. The flowers are very small and green-white. The fruit are purple berries. They become black as they ripen. They are edible. They are 5 mm across.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or dried for winter use. A pleasant taste somewhat like bilberries. The fruit is rather small, about 6mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used to produce wine. They are used for cakes and drinks. They can also be eaten fresh. The fruit are eaten raw or used to colour wines. They can be dried and stored. The fruit are cooked with sugar and diluted with water to make a drink.

Medicinal Uses

Astringent Febrifuge Poultice A wine made from the fruit is said to have medicinal properties. The plant (the exact part is not specified) is astringent, febrifuge and poultice. It is used in the treatment of throat infections and intestinal tumours.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in forest valleys in Chile. It does not tolerate extremes of heat or cold. It needs a moist soil. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. It can grown in sun or light shade. It can tolerate drought. It is frost resistant. Mt Lofty Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Africa, Argentina, Australia, Britain, Chile*, Egypt, Europe, France, New Zealand, North Africa, South America, Tasmania,

Cultivation

It can be grown from seed or by cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Once the plants are at least 20cm tall, plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth in early winter. Take cuttings 15 - 30cm long and plant them in pots or the open soil in a greenhouse. They normally root very easily and can be potted up in early summer then planted out late the following spring.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses Attracts Wildlife

Notes

There are about 5-8 Aristotelia species. They grow in southern temperate regions. The fruit are very high in Antioxidants. It probably helps people with respiratory diseases.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Clon, Kelon, Koelon, Macqui, Maki, Maqui, Mountain currant, Queldon

References (32)

• Barreau, A., et al, 2016, How Can We Teach Our Children if We Cannot Access the Forest? Generational Change in Mapuche Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants in Andean Temperate Ecosystems of Chile. Journal of Ethnobiology 36(2): 412–432
• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 41 (As Aristotelia macqui)
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 103
• Brickell, C. (Ed.), 1999, The Royal Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Convent Garden Books. p 138
• Cespedes, C. L., 2010, Phytochemical profile and the antioxidant activity of Chilean wild black-berry fruits Aristotelia chilensis (Mol) Stuntz (Elaeocarpaceae). Food Chemistry 119: 86-895

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