Vaccinium oldhamii

Vaccinium oldhamii is a species of Vaccinium native to China, South Korea, and Japan.

Description

A compact upright shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows from 1-3 m tall. The older branches and slender and dark brown. The leaves are oval or curved and slightly pointed at the tip and base. They are 3-7 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are paler green underneath. There can be coarse hairs on the upper surface. The leaves turn bright red in autumn. The flowers are 3-5 mm long with downy flower stalks. The flowers occur as many together along stalks 4-6 cm long. These are at the ends of young shoots. The flowers are bell shaped and pale brown or red. The fruit are round berries 8 mm across. They are black.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and measures about 6mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are eaten fresh and used for wine.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In north China it grows in thickets on mountain slopes between 200-700 m above sea level. It grows naturally in woods near the foot of mountains in Japan and Korea.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Japan, Korea,

Cultivation

Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position. Requires shelter from strong winds. Self-sterile, at least two plants from different sources must be grown if fruit is required. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Sow seed in late winter in a greenhouse using a lime-free potting mix, barely covering it. Stored seed may need up to 3 months of cold stratification. Alternatively, sow fresh seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. When seedlings reach about 5cm tall, prick them out into individual pots and grow on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out into permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5–8cm with a heel, can be taken in August in a frame, though this method is slow and difficult. Layering can be done in late summer or early autumn — though one report favours spring — and takes 18 months. Suckers can be divided in spring or early autumn.

Other Uses

None known.

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

Chinggumnamu

Vaccinium oldhamii

(c) Charles, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Charles

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

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

Synonyms

Also Known As

Jeonggeumnamu

References (8)

• Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavum 2:161. 1866
• Chen, B. & Qiu, Z., Consumer's Attitudes towards Edible Wild Plants, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. p 26 www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/aip/872413.pdf
• Hwang, H., et al, 2013, A Study on the Flora of 15 Islands in the Western Sea of Jeollanamdo Province, Korea. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol. 6, No. 2 281-310
• Hwang, HS, et al, 2014, Distribution characteristics of plant in the Ungseokbong Mountain, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 7(2014) e164-e178
• Kim, H. & Song, M., 2013, Ethnobotanical analysis for traditional knowledge of wild edible plants in North Jeolla Province (Korea). Genetic. Resour. Crop Evol. (2013) 60:1571-1585

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