Disterigma empetrifolium
(Kunth) Drude
Ericaceae
Disterigma leiopodandrum S.F.Blake
Disterigma margaricoccum S.F.Blake
Metagonia empetrifolia (Kunth) Nutt.
Metagonia penaeoides (Kunth) Nutt.
Vaccinium empetrifolium Kunth
Vaccinium epacridifolium Benth.
Vaccinium penaeoides Kunth
Common Name:
Flowers (pink) and fruit (white)
Photograph by: C. Ulloa
General Information
Disterigma empetrifolium is a low-growing, usually much-branched, terrestrial shrub, that can be bushy and to 0.5 metres tall; or prostrate and matted; or forming cushions to a few centimetres high; according to the habitat in which it grows[
376- Title
- Neotropical Blueberries - The Plant Family Ericaceae
- Publication
-
- Author
- Luteyn. J.L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa. P.
- Website
- http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensive on-line guide to the Ericaceae of tropical America, giving full botanical descriptions, often with details of plant uses.
].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for its edible fruit, which is occasionally sold in local markets in Ecuador[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
376- Title
- Neotropical Blueberries - The Plant Family Ericaceae
- Publication
-
- Author
- Luteyn. J.L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa. P.
- Website
- http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensive on-line guide to the Ericaceae of tropical America, giving full botanical descriptions, often with details of plant uses.
Range
Western S. America - Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.
Habitat
Lower montane wet forest, montane wet forest, and subpáramo to páramo at elevations of 2,865 - 4350 metres[
376- Title
- Neotropical Blueberries - The Plant Family Ericaceae
- Publication
-
- Author
- Luteyn. J.L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa. P.
- Website
- http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensive on-line guide to the Ericaceae of tropical America, giving full botanical descriptions, often with details of plant uses.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of high elevations in tropical areas, experiencing frost and occasional snow.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
376- Title
- Neotropical Blueberries - The Plant Family Ericaceae
- Publication
-
- Author
- Luteyn. J.L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa. P.
- Website
- http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensive on-line guide to the Ericaceae of tropical America, giving full botanical descriptions, often with details of plant uses.
]. Tender, crisp and juicy, with a subacid flavour, they are very refreshing[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. Berry spherical, to 8-12 mm diam., translucent white, sometimes with pale greenish tint[
376- Title
- Neotropical Blueberries - The Plant Family Ericaceae
- Publication
-
- Author
- Luteyn. J.L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa. P.
- Website
- http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensive on-line guide to the Ericaceae of tropical America, giving full botanical descriptions, often with details of plant uses.
].
Medicinal
An infusion is used for treating nerves[
376- Title
- Neotropical Blueberries - The Plant Family Ericaceae
- Publication
-
- Author
- Luteyn. J.L. & Pedraza-Peñalosa. P.
- Website
- http://www.nybg.org/bsci/res/lut2/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A very comprehensive on-line guide to the Ericaceae of tropical America, giving full botanical descriptions, often with details of plant uses.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
