Above: Photo by T. Mione. Collection 546, Bolivia.
Above: Photo by Segundo Leiva G., collection number 1737.
Saracha herrerae C. V. Morton, Revista Univ. (Cuzco) 33(87): 96. 1944-1945. TYPE: PERU, Dept. Cuzco, Sacsayhuaman, 3500 m, Dec. 1925, F. L. Herrera 828 (HOLOTYPE: US; ISOTYPES: F, G, photograph of F specimen, F neg. 49347). The isotype label at G reads "Urubamba Basin"; this is not stated in the protologue, nor on the label of the isotype at F.
Distribution and Ecology: Peru and Bolivia, along stone walls and disturbed habitats, from 3000 - 3800 m.
Flowering and fruiting December to June.
Ripe fruit is eaten (type; Mione et al. 564), and is used to treat canker sores and high fever (Alvarez 92).
Local names are "ahuaimantu" (type), "awilmantu" (King et al. 114), "awaymanto" (Brunel 811), "chilto" (Alvarez 92, Mione et al. 563, 564) and "yahuarmanto" (Hermann et al. 473).
Chromosome Number: n = 12 (Roe, 1967). The specimen Roe used for his count (Iltis et al. 972) is cited below.
Seed Germnation: Seeds collected Jan 1992 were sown on 29 Apr 2007 and a few of them germinated 23 May 2007
Additional specimens examined:
PERU. Ayacucho: Pampa de Chupas, Soukup 5523 (US). Cuzco: Huailabamba, Paucartambo, 3660 m, 5 June 1939, Balls 6731 (F, K); Anta, El Chaccan, 3680 m, 16 Apr 1973, Brunel 811 (MO, NY); Ollantaytambo, 3000 m, 27 Apr 1915, Cook & Gilbert 417 (NY, US); Sacsayhuaman, 3500 m, Mar 1929, Herrera 2351 (F), 3600 m, Jan 1931, Herrera 3088 (US); Sacsayhuaman, 3600 m, 1 Apr 1944, Vargas 4166 (WIS); Sacsayhuaman, 3550 m, 14 Dec 1944, Vargas 4836 (WIS); 1 km before Mutuipata, on rd. from Limotambo to Anta at km 62 from Cuzco, 3100 m, 23 Dec 1962, Iltis & Ugent 772 (WIS); valley of Río Urubamba, 9 km (by road SW of Pisac) on road to Cuzco, 3800 m, 30 Dec 1962, Iltis & Ugent 972 (K, US, WIS); Urubamba, Chincheros, Chinchero ruins, 3750 m, 3 Feb 1982, King et al. 114 (NY), 3650 m, 14 Jun 1990, Hermann et al. 473 (NY); Urubamba, Dec 1937, Soukup 740 (F). Huancavelica: Yauli, 3500 m, 11 Mar 1939, Stork & Horton 10859 (F, K).
BOLIVIA. La Paz: Prov. Bautista Saavedra, Kanlaya, 3568 m, 25 Dec 1979, Alvarez 92 (NY); Amarete, 3280 m, 12 May 1981, Feuerer 6386a (NY), 3260 m, 14 Apr 1982, Feuerer 11140 (NY); Charazani, Chari, 30 Mar 1982, Feuerer 10969a (NY); town of Kanlaya, a right fork on road from Charazani to Amarete, 3600 m, 30 Dec 1991, Mione et al. 563 (CONN, LPB). Prov. Larecaja, Sorata, 19 Apr 1920, Holway & Holway 554 (NY, US); Sorata, 2700-3200 m, 1818-1819, Mandon 430 (G, GH, NY); Sorata, comunidad Chorquikoa, 3150 m, 1 Jan 1992, Mione et al. 564 (LPB); Sorata, Feb 1886, Rusby 831 (GH, NY, US).