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Lardizabala biternata

Common name:	Zabala Fruit	Family:	Lardizabalaceae
Author:	Ruiz.& Pav.	Botanical references:	11, 200
Synonyms:
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	S. America - Chile, Peru.
Habitat:	Grows into trees in woodland[139, 184].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	3	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	0

Epithets:	From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
	biternata = with two sets of three ternata = in threes
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Ranunculales. Lardizabala family

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen climber growing to 3.5m. It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from December to February. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant). The plant not is self-fertile. We rate it 3/5 for edibility and 0/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, By Walls, By South Wall, By East Wall, By West Wall.

Edible Uses

Fruit.

Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet and pulpy[2, 3, 11], it is considered to be a delicacy in Chile where it is collected and sold in local markets[183]. Also of interest value because of its sausage-like deep purple fruits[183]. The fruit is 5 - 8cm long[188].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

None known

Other Uses

Fibre.

A cordage is made from the stems[1, 61].

Cultivation details

Prefers a well-drained humus-rich sandy loam in a shady protected position[200]. It requires a sunny wall according to another report[182], whilst others say that it succeeds in sun or semi-shade[188, 219].
A very ornamental plant[1], but it is only hardy in the mildest areas of Britain tolerating occasional lows to -10° c[184]. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. The fruits are only formed in this country after a long hot summer[166, 219].
Plants climb by means of twining[182], they do not really need pruning[219].
The flowers can be monoecious or dioecious. Male and female flowers are carried on the same plants[188].
The edible fruit is sold in the local markets in Chile and Peru[46].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[200]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in early summer and, if possible, give the plants some protection for their first winter outdoors.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm long with a heel, June/July in a frame[78]. The cuttings should be put in individual pots[78]. A good percentage[78].
Stem cuttings in spring and autumn[200].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

PFAF Web Pages

This plant is mentioned in the following web pages

Web References

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for the family Lardizabalaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[3] Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7
A very readable book with information on about 100 species that can be grown in Britain (some in greenhouses) and details on how to grow and use them.

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[139] ? Flora of Chile. (in Spanish)
Some information about the useful plants of Chile.

[166] Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990
A good book on plants that you didn't know could be grown outdoors in Britain.

[182] Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[184] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989 ISBN 0-330-30258-2
Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1900 species and cultivars.

[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[219] Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983 ISBN 0-00-219220-0
A nice little book about plants for growing against walls and a small section on plants that can grow in walls.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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