Comarostaphylis arbutoides

Family: Ericaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It grows 3 m tall. It can be a small tree 20 m tall. The bark peels off. The leaves are leathery and deep green. They are 5-12 cm long by 1-5 cm wide. The flowers are green-white and in clusters. The fruit are 5-7 mm across. The fruit are red when young and dark purple to black when ripe.

There are about 50 Arctostaphylos species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Once established it is drought tolerant. It grows between 1,350-3,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Central America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chilu, Nariz de chucho, Nariz de perro

Synonyms

Arctostaphylos arbutoides (Lindl.) Hemsl.; Comarostaphylis chiriquensis Camp.; Comarostaphylis sleumeri Suess.;