Gaultheria hispida

Gaultheria hispida, commonly known as the copperleaf snowberry, is an endemic eudicot of Tasmania, Australia. It is an erect multi-branched shrub, that can be found in wet forests and alpine woodlands. Its berries appear snowy white and leaves are tipped with a copper tinge, hence the common name.

Description

A small shrub. It can be erect or spreading. The young growth is slightly hairy. It has many branches. The branches are covered with coarse red bristles. The leaves are 4-8 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. They are sword shaped with teeth along the edge. The leaves are glossy. There is a fine point at the tip and this is often curved backwards. The flowers are like tubes. They are 0.8 cm long and white. The fruit is a dry capsule with a large succulent calyx around it. The fruit is 1.2 cm across. The fruit are white.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is somewhat bitter but not unpleasant — when cooked it tastes similar to gooseberries, though with a slight residual bitterness. Each fruit is about 8–10mm across.

Traditional Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The plant is said to be useful in the treatment of cancer.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in wet forests between 300-1100 m altitude. They need light shade and cool moist soils. They can tolerate most frosts. It is known to grow naturally only in Tasmania. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Britain, Europe, Ireland, North America, Tasmania*, USA,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed, cuttings or layering. The seeds are very small. The seeds can be sown in a potting mix and pricked out when small. They can then later be transplanted out.

Propagation

Seed requires cold stratification — pre-chill for 4–10 weeks, then surface sow in lime-free compost in a shady part of the greenhouse, keeping the compost moist. Germination usually occurs within 1–2 months at 20°C, but seedlings are prone to damping off. Water carefully, ensure good ventilation, and consider watering with a garlic infusion to reduce damping off. Prick out seedlings into individual pots at about 25mm tall and grow on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least the first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Protect from spring frosts for the first few years outdoors, as seedlings are susceptible. Leaves remain very small for the first few years. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 3–6cm long, taken July/August in a shaded frame; roots form in late summer or spring, with a good success rate. Divide in spring just before new growth begins — larger clumps can go straight to permanent positions, though smaller clumps are best potted up in a cold frame until rooting well, then planted out in spring. Layering is also possible.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 170 Gaultheria species.

Synonyms

References (19)

• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 488
• Bonney, N., 2012, Edible Wild Native Plants for Southern Australia. p 123
• Cameron, M., (Ed.) 1981, A Guide to Flowers & Plants of Tasmania. Reed p 34
• Collier, P., 1992, Rainforest Plants of Tasmania. Plant Identikit. Society for growing Australian Plants. Tasmania. p 12
• Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 36

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