Vaccinium mortinia
Mortiño
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[2][1]. Some forms are juicy, sub-acid and pleasantly flavoured[6][7]. Highly esteemed[9]. The fruit is rather small, about 5mm in diameter[8].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Environment
- Range
- S. America - Ecuador and Colombia.
- Habitat
- Found at elevations from 2800 to 4000 metres in the Andes[7].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 9+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[10]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[3]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[8]. Once they are about 5cm tall, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[10]. Slow and difficult. Layering in late summer or early autumn[10]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[8]. Takes 18 months[10]. Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[3].
Cultivation
Requires a moist but freely-draining lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[2][8]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4.5 to 6, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[8]. Requires shelter from strong winds[8]. This species is not very frost tolerant, it succeeds outdoors only in the milder areas of Britain[5], where it grows well in woodland gardens[4]. Another report says that frosts can occur on almost any night at the higher elevations of its range, where it still grows and crops well. The days there, however, are generally warm or hot and so it is the longer lasting cold of winters in the temperate zone that can cause damage to the plant. The species is of special interest for its potential in breeding programmes where it could endow frost resistence to the flowers. Plants vary in height from almost prostrate shrubs to about 3 metres tall[7]. Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[8]. Although not usually cultivated, the fruit is widely sold in the local markets of Ecuador and Colombia[9][6][7]. It is an ingredient of a special dish with molasses, spices and other fruits that is eaten on All Soul's Day in S. America[6]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[8].
References
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Popenoe. H. et al Lost Crops of the Incas National Academy Press 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-309-04264-X
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00