Vaccinium meridionale

Swartz

Jamaica bilberry, Jamaican blueberry

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit 163 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc-sa

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Contribute a photo Sign in required

Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Vaccinium meridionale, agraz or Andean blueberry, is a species in the section Pyxothamnus of the genus Vaccinium, in the heath and heather family. It is found in the mountains of Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, and may have been introduced to Jamaica. Like so‑called wild blueberries in North America, it is artisanally tended in a manner that differs little from wild growing conditions, with few inputs. Its fruit is gathered in the wild and widely sold in local health food markets and grocery stores.

Description

A shrub. It grows 0.5-4 m tall. The leaves are alternate and 1.3-3 cm long by 0.4-1.2 cm wide. The fruit are red berries. They are 6-8 mm across.

This description is brief — help expand it

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. It can be made into a jelly or used in pies and tarts. The black berries are about 8mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used to make jelly and in pies and tarts.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The fruit are high in anti-oxidants.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows between 2,700-3,400 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Andes, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Peru, South America, Venezuela, West Indies,

Other Information

It is also cultivated.

Notes

The fruit are high in anti-oxidants.

Dangerous Lookalikes

This plant can be confused with the following toxic species. Always verify identification carefully before consuming any wild plant.

DEADLY

Deadly Nightshade

Atropa belladonna

Joan Simon from Barcelona, España

Safe

Jamaica bilberry

Vaccinium meridionale

Deadly Nightshade: Tall herbaceous plant (1-2m), single shiny black cherry-sized berries, star-shaped calyx, large oval leaves, sweet but dangerous taste.

Jamaica bilberry: Low woody shrub, berries in clusters with crown/remnant calyx ring, sweet taste.

Also Known As

Agraz, Andean blueberry, Colombian blueberry, Jamaica mulberry

References (10)

Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 667
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 894
Lopez-Diago, D. & Garcia, N., 2021, Wild edible fruits of Colombia. Biota ColomBiana 22 (2) p 37
Martin, F. W., et al, 1987, Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics. USDA Handbook 642 p 94
Macmillan, H.F. (Revised Barlow, H.S., et al) 1991, Tropical Planting and Gardening. Sixth edition. Malayan Nature Society. Kuala Lumpur. p 319

Show all 10 references

Prodr. 62. 1788
Ramirez, D. L. A., 2010, Las Ericaceas Con Frutos Comestibles del Altiplano Cundiboyacense. Pontificia Univerisidad Javeriana, Bogota.
Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 709
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew