2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Ugni (lat. Ugni molinae) - a fruit shrub belonging to the Myrtle family. In science, this plant is called the Chilean Ugni or Molina Ugni. And among the people he is also called Unyi.
History
The first description of ugni appeared in 1782, and was made by Juan Ignacio Molina (in fact, this is precisely what determines the full Latin name of this culture). And in 1844, William Lobb, a botanist and plant collector, first cultivated this plant in England and even presented the outlandish fruits to the royal court. By the way, these berries have become a favorite delicacy of Queen Victoria.
Description
Ugni is a compact evergreen shrub that ranges in height from thirty to one hundred and seventy centimeters. Specimens about three meters high are extremely rare.
Glossy dark green lanceolate or oval leaves of the ugne grow up to one or two centimeters in length and up to one and one and a half centimeters in width. If the leaves of this plant are rubbed a little in your hands, they will begin to exude a rather pleasant aroma.
Ugni flowers are formed by a corolla with a diameter of about one centimeter, many short stamens and pale pink or white petals in the amount of four to five pieces.
Ugni fruits are red berries of a relatively small size, reaching one centimeter in diameter and having a rather strong smell of strawberries. However, the color of the berries may vary - sometimes the fruits are purple or even white. In addition, all berries have a pronounced sour taste. Each bush is capable of producing up to several kilograms of berries per season. Moreover, in the Southern Hemisphere, berries ripen from March to May, and in the Northern Hemisphere, from August to October.
Where grows
South America (mainly Argentinean territories) is considered the homeland of Ugn. This plant grows wild in Chile, in temperate rain forests. In the past few decades, this crop has been actively cultivated for the sake of edible berries that exude a spicy strawberry smell. Nowadays, you can also meet in New Zealand, Mexico or Japan.
Application
The edible fruit is used to make traditional rich Chilean liqueurs and aromatic jellies. However, jams, preserves and many other varieties of canned coal are also very good.
Ogne fruits are characterized by a fairly high content of polyphenols, which have powerful antioxidant properties.
Roasted seeds are a very good substitute for coffee, and the leaves of this plant are often dried and brewed as tea.
The excellent decorative properties of ugne make it possible to use this plant in landscaping - luxurious hedges are obtained from it.
Contraindications
Since the ogny berries contain substances that provoke allergic reactions, they may not be suitable for people with individual intolerance.
Growing and caring
Ugni grows very well in indoor conditions. However, it is important to take into account that for its full development, weakly acidic soils (without lime content), good drainage and fairly intense lighting are needed. However, this culture can grow in partial shade, but it will not survive complete shading. And she is also able to withstand frosts down to minus ten degrees.
Eels can be propagated both by cuttings and with the help of seeds. This is usually done during the summer. And in the winter season, the formation of ugne is carried out - in order for all the bushes to be of the correct shape and be compact enough, they are cut off.
