Greigia sphacelata
(Ruiz & Pav.) Regel
Chupon
(c) Diego Almendras G., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Diego Almendras G.
no rights reserved
no rights reserved
What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit is edible.
Where to Find It
In Chile it grows in coastal areas from sea level to 500 m altitude. It grows in humid areas with constant rainfall. It can tolerate some shade. It suits hardiness zone 9. It can tolerate some frost.
Chile*, South America,
How to Identify
A shrub. It grows 1.5 m high. It does not have a stem but the leaves are 2 m long and in a ring. The inner leaves are erect and the outer leaves curve. They are 3 cm wide and have a few sharp spines at the tip. Leaves are more pale underneath. There are teeth along the edge. The flowering shoots are at the side and have many flowers. The fruit is pulpy and white with many black seeds.
How to Grow
A frost tender plant requiring stove conditions, though it can be grown outdoors in the summer.
Propagation: Propagate from seed.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
None known.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Greigia sphacelata is a species of flowering plant in the family Bromeliaceae. This species is endemic to Chile. It is distributed between the Maule and Los Lagos regions. It produces edible fruits, known as 'chupones'.
Other Information
The fruit are eaten especially by children. They are also sold in local markets.
Names & Synonyms
Cai, Caj, Chapeu, Chupeu, Chupones, Guicondo, Niyu, Nuyu, Quiscal, Rayen niyu
References (12)
- Barreau, A., et al, 2016, How Can We Teach Our Children if We Cannot Access the Forest? Generational Change in Mapuche Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants in Andean Temperate Ecosystems of Chile. Journal of Ethnobiology 36(2): 412–432
- Cordero, S. E., Abello, L. A., & Galvez, F. L., 2017, Plantas silvestres comestibles y medicinales de Chile y otras partes del mundo. CORMA p 178
- Daly, A. B., 20014, Narrating changing foodways: wild edible plant knowledge and traditional food systems in Mapuche lands of the Andean Temperate Forests, Chile. Masters Thesis Vancouver. p 45
- Gartenflora 14:137, t. 474. 1865
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 332
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 397
- Leon-Lobos, P., et al, 2022, Patterns of Traditional and Modern Uses of Wild Edible Native Plants of Chile: Challenges and Future Perspectives. Plants (Basel) v 11 (6) Table S1
- Martin, F. W., et al, 1987, Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics. USDA Handbook 642 p 84
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Rapoport, E. H. & Ladio, A. H., 1999, Plantas comestibles. Bosque Volume 20 No. 2. ISSN 0314-8799
- Smith, L. B. & Downs, R. J., 1979, Bromelioideae, Flora Neotropica 14(3), p 1633
- www.chileflora.com
