Michay, Calafate
Berberis rotundifolia
Family: Berberidaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It grows 1.5 m high. The leaves are round. There are sharp thorns below the leaves. Flowers are yellow with 7-14 petals. The fruit ripen from green to bluish.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In Chile it grows from 500 m to over 2,300 m above sea level. It grows in dry areas with a winter rainfall of 400-800 mm. It can tolerate some shade. It suits hardiness zone 7. It can tolerate frost and snow.
Countries/locations it is found in
Chile (country/location of origin), South America
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit