Vaccinium myrtoides

(Blume) Miq.

Gatmo

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit 12 iNaturalist observations

Has a deadly poisonous lookalike — see comparison below

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President and Fellows of Harvard College

Description

A small shrub or tree. The leaves are alternate and leathery, pointed at the tip and rounded at the base. Flowers are small and whitish or purple. The fruit are small black berries produced in several clusters. They are juicy and sweet.

Edible Uses

Fruit - an excellent flavour they can be used to make fine preserve and pies. The globose fruit, which turns bluish-blackish when ripe, is 4 - 5mm in diameter

Traditional Uses

The berries are eaten raw. They can be used in jams and pies.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. They are common in Benguet and occur from northern Luzon to Mindanao in the Philippines.

Where It Grows

Asia, Indonesia, Pacific, Philippines*, SE Asia,

Other Uses

The wood is used to make utensils. The wood is used for fuel.

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

Gatmo

Vaccinium myrtoides

Wikimedia Commons - Alex Lomas

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

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

Also Known As

Alimani, Alumani, Ayosep, Ayusip, Gotmo

References (7)

Barcelo, R., 2015, Phytochemical Screening and Antioxidant Activity of Edible Wild Fruits in Benguet, Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. Electronic Journal of Biology, 2015, Vol.11(3): 80-89
Brown, W.H., 1920, Wild Food Plants of the Philippines. Bureau of Forestry Bulletin No. 21 Manila. p 140
Chua-Barcelo, R. T., 2014, Ethnobotanical survey of edible wild fruits in Benguet, Cordillera administrative region, the Philippines. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed. 4(Suppl. 1):S525-S538
Fl. Ned. Ind. 2:1062. 1859
Monsalud, M.R., Tongacan, A.L., Lopez, F.R., & Lagrimas, M.Q., 1966, Edible Wild Plants in Philippine Forests. Philippine Journal of Science. p 464

Show all 7 references