Thibaudia martiniana

A. C. Sm.

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit Potential hazards — see below 12 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A shrub. It has long branches 4 m long. The stem can be angled with ribs along it. The leaves are thick and oval. They are 12-30 cm long by 5-17 cm wide. The edges can be curled. The flowering shoots are in the axils of leaves and have 7-15 flowers in a group. The fruit are dark berries. They are 22 mm across and blue to black. They are juicy.

Edible Uses

The dark blue-black berries are eaten fresh.

Medicinal Uses

None mentioned.

Known Hazards

None mentioned.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the Andes between 1,000-1,200 m above sea level. It has been recorded at 2,300 m.

Where It Grows

Andes, Ecuador, South America,

Also Known As

Joyapas

References (1)

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 866