Pearl berry, Pearl fruit
Margyricarpus pinnatus

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub. It is spreading. It can be 60 cm high. It is densely branching. The stems interweave. The leaves are bright green and like needles. They divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are 18 mm long. The leaves are closely packed in rings. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves. The flowers are small and green. The fruit are white and they can have purple tints.

There is only one (2) Margyricarpus species.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. It is native to the Andes in Chile. It is hardy to light frosts. It will grow in most well drained soils. It can grow in sun or part shade. It suffers with prolonged wet conditions. It grows on arid hills in Brazil. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 3,000 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Britain, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Europe, South America (country/location of origin), Tasmania, Uruguay

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown by seed, cuttings or layering.

Its other names

Local names

Bichilla, Cipo-grande-cesto, Fruto-de-perdiz, Hierba de la perlilla, Nigua, Perla, Perlilla, Piginiguera, Piki chisak, Piki muru, Piki niwa, Piki yuyu, Piquitigli hembra, Perlilla, Planta de pulgas, Romerillo, Sabinilla, Yerba de la perdiz, Yerba perdiz, Yunpu yuyu

Synonyms

Margyricarpus setosus Ruiz. & Pav.;