Chinese Bayberry, Chinese arbutus, Japanese bayberry
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and subtropical Asia. It grows in forests in mountain slopes between 100-1500 m altitude. It can grow on poor soil. It can withstand wind, sea breeze and air pollution. It suits plant hardiness zone 10.
Also known as:
Kaiphal, Mumu, Poplar mei, Red bayberry, Tree strawberry, Yama-momo, Yangmei, Yang-mae, Yamamomo, Yamomomoki
Synonyms
- Morella rubra Lour.
- Myrica rubra var. acuminata Nakai
- Myrica nagi Thunb.
Edible Portion
- Fruit, Seeds
Where does Chinese Bayberry grow?
Found in: Asia, Australia, Britain, China, Guam, Himalayas, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam
Notes: There are about 50 Myrica species. Possibly now Morella rubra.
Status: Fruit sold in markets. It is commonly cultivated for its edible fruit. Fruit are canned.
Growing Chinese Bayberry, Chinese arbutus, Japanese bayberry
Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. The thick woody seed covering or by cold treatment. It can also be grown from cuttings. Plants can be grafted.
Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten raw or cooked. They can also be eaten fresh, cooked, preserved or made into a drink. The seeds kernels are edible. The fruit are made into fruit wine or fruit brandy.
Production: Fruiting season in Australia between October to January depending on region and cultivar. Fruit will only keep for 3 days at 20°C.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 44 | 0.5 | 0.4 | - | 4 | 0.1 | 87.8 |
References
Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 626
Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 79
Eisenberg et al, 2009, Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Ghuizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China. Ethnobotany Research and Applicatons 7:067-113
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 157
GUPTA, (As Myrica nagi)
Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 430 (As Myrica nagi)
Hu, Shiu-ying, 2005, Food Plants of China. The Chinese University Press. p 335
INFOODS:FAO/INFOODS Databases
Levy-Yamamori, R., & Taaffe, G., 2004, Garden Plants of Japan. Timber Press. p 158
Lu Anmin, Bornstein, A.J., Myricaceae. Flora of China. Vol. 4, p 276
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Myrica nagi)
Reis, S. V. and Lipp, F. L., 1982, New Plant Sources for Drugs and Foods from the New York Botanical Garden herbarium. Harvard. p 35
Self, M., 1999, Phoenix Seeds catalogue. p 15
Stone, B.,
Sukarya, D. G., (Ed.) 2013, 3,500 Plant Species of the Botanic Gardens of Indonesia. LIPI p 406
Tanaka,
Uphof,
USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN). [Online Database] National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available: www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/econ.pl (10 April 2000)
Valder, P., 1999, The Garden Plants of China. Florilegium. p 311
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew