Gaultheria tomentosa

H. B. Kunth

Ericaceae Edible: Fruit 19 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A shrub. It can grow to 4 m tall. The bark is reddish brown and cracks in long strips. The leaves are oval and 2-5 cm long by 0.6-1.4 cm wide. They taper to a long tip. The flowering shoots have 7-12 flowers. The fruit are 6-10 mm across and blue-black.

Edible Uses

The fruit are pulpy and sweet, eaten fresh especially by children.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are pulpy and sweet.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Several species are grown as ornamental shrubs in gardens, particularly G. mucronata (Pernettya mucronata) from southern Chile and Argentina and G. shallon (salal) from the Pacific Northwest of North America. Many of the smaller species are suitable for rock gardens. Like most other ericaceous plants, Gaultheria species do best in peaty soil that never fully dries out. The fruit of many Gaultheria species is edible, particularly that of salal, which can be used to make jelly. One, the American wintergreen or eastern teaberry, G. procumbens, is the traditional source of wintergreen flavouring; it is called the eastern teaberry because its leaves can be used to make a tea, and its berries can be eaten without preparation. The fruit of most other Gaultheria species is insipid in flavour and not extensively consumed. One variety of G. leucocarpa shows anti-inflammatory properties and is used in Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, swelling, and pain.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows between 2,700-3,400 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Ecuador, Peru, South America,

Other Information

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Notes

There are about 170 Gaultheria species.

Synonyms

Brossaea tomentosa (Kunth) Kuntze

Also Known As

Duraznillo, Gallo lulun Huevo de gallo, Shamsque, Sierilla

References (5)

F. W. H. A. von Humboldt et al., Nov. gen. sp. 3:224[folio]; 3:287[quarto], t. 262. 1819
Joyal, E., 1987, Ethnobotanical Field Notes from Ecuador: Camp, Prieto, Jorgensen, and Giler. Economic Botany 41(2): 163-189
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 385
Torre, de la, L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 312
Van den Eynden, V., et al, 2003, Wild Foods from South Ecuador. Economic Botany 57(4): 576-603