Myrteola nummularia
| Myrteola nummularia | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 0.3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Myrteola nummularia
Propagation: Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow it in late winter in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on 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[K].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Pot up in the autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring. High percentage[1].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 7 - 12cm with a heel, November in a shaded and frost free frame. Plant out in late spring or early autumn. High percentage[1].
Layering.
Cultivation: Succeeds in any reasonably good soil[2] including dry ones. Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[3][4]. Prefers a cool position according to another report. Tolerates maritime exposure[5].
This species is not very hardy when grown outdoors in Britain, succeeding to the south and west of London[3]. A group of plants in a sunny position on a rock garden at Kew Gardens seem to be perfectly happy and hardy, producing a reasonable crop of fruit in December 1996[K].
A good carpeting plant for moist stones etc in a rockery[3].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].
Range: S. America - S. Chile, Falklands.
Habitat: Raised parts of bogs, especially with sphagnum[6].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweet and agreeable flavour[7][8]. The fruit is up to 1cm in diameter, it has a soft juicy flesh and a delicious slightly aromatic flavour[K]. It is produced in late autumn and early winter, and is a very valuable fruit at this time of the year[K].
The leaves are a tea substitute[9].
Usage: Suitable for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way, the plants form a carpet of low branches that root as they spread[10]. Plants are a bit slow to become established and will need weeding for their first few years after planting[K].
Pollinators: Bees
Notes: We need to obtain the seed and could supply the plant 2 years after germination.
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Late Fall-Early Winter
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: Myrteola nummularia.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ Moore, David. Flora of Tierra del Fuego. Anthony Nelson, 1983.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.