The guillomo It is a plant whose name is not very attractive, but the fruit is. This plant, unlike many others that we talk about here in this blog, is found in the wild. They can be seen in the northern and northeastern part of Spain, in the Pyrenees and in the Cantabrian Mountains. Its scientific name is Amelanchier ovalis and the fruit is commonly known as a guillomo.
In this article we are going to comment on the main characteristics, some cares and properties of the guillomo. Do you want to know more about it? You just have to keep reading.
Generalities
At present, we all have more or less chosen the different fruits that we like to eat and we know more or less how they are grown and where. In addition, we can have them at any time of the year in supermarkets and stores. Apart from all the common fruits that are marketed and that everyone knows, there is the guillomo. And it is that it is one of these fruits that develop in fields, meadows and forests in a natural way and whose plant is feral.
Normally, this type of fruit is not paid much attention for several reasons. The first is usually that its commercialization would not give benefits. The second may be the taste. There are countless fruits whose flavor does not attract a secure clientele and your investment would not return benefits. The third is that the fruits are not edible. However, the guillomo has a quite pleasant taste and considerable nutritional properties that we will see in more detail later.
Guillomo Features
It is a shrubby bush with a maximum height of about three meters. It has quite long branches of a reddish color when they are younger. This is an indicator that can help us to recognize the age of the bush. Its leaves are oval in type with a serrated edge and a light green color. On the underside it is usually more grayish.
Among its flowers we find 5 quite narrow and elongated white petals and they are placed in short clusters of about five flowers on average. The fruit of the guillomo, which is what we are dealing with here, has a slightly globular shape and its color is similar to that of a blueberry. This fruit keeps the calyx visible and inside we can find numerous seeds for its expansion and reproduction.
For people who eat the guillomo, the number of seeds inside is a drawback. At the time of eating it is a bit annoying and may interfere with the experience and taste.. This shrub blooms during the spring time when temperatures begin to rise after the cold winter. The fruits ripen throughout the summer until their best time to collect is in early autumn.
The best thing to do is to wait for the fruit to turn a very dark blue color, almost black, since during this process it acquires a large amount of sugars from fructose that makes the flavor noticeably improve.
Distribution area
Most of the guillomos are found in mountain areas. Its area of distribution extends between the Pyrenees, the Basque mountains, the Cantabrian Mountains and the Sierra de Catalunya. It is also possible to find it in less quantity in the mountains of eastern Andalusia and somewhat in the central system.
The habitat of this shrub is rocky and stony terrain up to 2.000 meters above sea level. They can also be found in some forests, but they do not like the density very much, since it increases the humidity a lot and damages them.
This fruit has a high sugar content and is quite aromatic. This is the reason why it is always waiting for its collection. Even if they are allowed to dry like raisins, the sugar content will grow more.
Necessary care
The guillomo is used in some gardens in isolation or to form small groups. In order for it to thrive in good condition it needs a location that is in full sun or can also be in semi-shade. As for the type of soil, it is recommended that it not be of the limestone type. One of the main needs in terms of substrate is that it be fertile and humid. For this there is no problem in common gardens since the garden soil with humus or manure is enough to keep it well.
If rainfall is low it will have to be watered several times a week. The time of year where it is most advisable to increase watering is in the flowering season to ensure that the fruits come out in optimal conditions. In addition, it is at this time of the year where we find less rainfall and more temperatures.
You need a compost of organic matter that matches the natural compost of fall in almost any garden. If we want to keep it in good condition so that the fruits come out in more quantity and better, we can prune it to remove the old branches at the beginning of winter or after the flowering season.
These shrubs are generally quite resistant to pests and diseases so there won't be much trouble. If the summer is hot enough you may be attacked by aphids.
To multiply it we have two options. The first is from seeds in the spring time. The second and fastest is by cuttings during the fall.
Guillome properties
The guillomo is used in the medical field for its many properties and benefits. Among its capabilities we have the following:
- It's great to regulate pressure.
- It has effective diuretic properties to help people who have discomfort from liver problems.
- It is very good as an anti-inflammatory. For gout disease it is quite useful.
- The leaves have antipyretic properties and its sap is used to treat rheumatism problems. If we make a tea with its leaves we can benefit from the diuretic properties.
I hope that with this information you can learn much more about the guillomo.