Gaultheria macrostigma

(Colenso) Middleton

Prostrate snowberry, False snowberry

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit 516 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Gaultheria macrostigma, or prostrate snowberry, is a species of Gaultheria, endemic to New Zealand.

Description

A shrub. It is low growing and lies along the ground. The stems are wiry. The leaves are thick. The leaves are more narrow than Gaultheria depressa. It can cross with this species. The flowers are in hanging groups. The flowers are white. The fruit can be white, pink or red. The fruit are fleshy berries. They have fleshy cups.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. It is described as fairly large for the genus, at about 6mm in diameter.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Distribution

It is a warm temperate plant. It grows in dry places and grasslands in New Zealand. It suits hardiness zones 8-9.

Where It Grows

New Zealand,

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 and ensure good ventilation to reduce this risk; watering with a garlic infusion can also help. 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. Seedlings are susceptible to spring frosts. 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. To aid division, 'drop' plants 12 months beforehand by digging them up and replanting them deeper so that branches are buried and can form roots — this works best in a sandy soil. Pot up divisions and grow on in light shade in the greenhouse until established, then plant out in summer. Layering in September/October takes about 12 months.

Other Uses

A good ground cover plant for sun or light shade.

Notes

There are about 170 Gaultheria species.

Synonyms

Gaultheria antipoda var. microphylla Hook.f.Gaultheria depressa var. microphylla (Hook.f.) CheesemanGaultheria perplexa Kirk ex CheesemanPernettya macrostigma ?

References (3)

Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 343
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Skinner, G. & Brown, C., 1981, Simply Living. A gatherer's guide to New Zealand's fields, forests and shores. Reed. p 39 (As Pernettya macrostigma)