Ericaceae FAMILY

Gaultheria myrsinoides

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

One report says that the fruit is poisonous[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. This is somewhat surprising in what is normally seen as a toxin-free genus.

Botanical Description

Gaultheria myrsinoides is a low-growing, sometimes prostrate, evergreen shrub, reaching a height of about 15cm. The plant produces an edible fruit which is sometimes gathered from the wild and consumed locally. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it makes a good ground cover.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeS. America - Costa Rica to the Andes of N. Chile.

HabitatNot known