Ericaceae FAMILY
Gaultheria pumila
Gaultheria pumila
Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
0/5
Safety & Hazards
None known
Botanical Description
Gaultheria pumila is a low-growing, evergreen shrub spreading by means of underground stems to form a dense cluster 15 - 20cm tall[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a ground cover.
Habitat & Origin
Origintemperate
Native RangeS. America - Falklands, southern Chile.
HabitatHeath, bogs, swamps, open wet places and woods to 900 metres, north to latitude 50° south in Chile[ 69 Title Flora of Tierra del Fuego. Publication Author Moore. D. M. Publisher Anthony Nelson. Year 1983 ISBN 0-904614-05-0 Description Standard work for this part of S. America. Excellent details of habitat and a few notes on plant uses. ].