Amomyrtus meli

Amomyrtus meli, known as meli, is a species of tree endemic to Chile in the family Myrtaceae. It grows from Arauco to Chiloe (37 to 42°S). It grows mostly on moist and shaded sites.[2]

Meli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Amomyrtus
Species:
A. meli
Binomial name
Amomyrtus meli
(Phil.) D.Legrand & Kausel

Description

It is an evergreen tree or that measures up to 20 m (65 ft) tall and up to 60 cm (23 in) in diameter, smooth bark, decorticant, reddish-whitish color. The leaves are opposite, oval, lanceolate or elliptical with acute apex which ends in a mucro up to 1 mm long. The leaves are 2-5 long and 0.7-2.5 cm wide, the petioles are 2–4 mm long. Newly shoots are glabrous what make it different from Amomyrtus luma, species to which it resembles very much, The flowers are hermaphrodite, 5 fused sepals and 5 free white petals about 3–4 mm long. The stamens are numerous 40-80 and 5–7 mm long. The fruit is a black purplish-black berry, 5–8 mm in diameter, generally with 3 seeds about 3–4.5 mm.

Etymology

The name Amomyrtus from the Greek Amos, very fragrant; Myrtus is the family's name and Meli is the indigenous mapuche name of the tree.[3]

Taxonomy

Amomyrtus meli was first described by Rodolfo Amando Philippi in 1856, and in 1947by D.Legrand & Kausel.[4][5]

Cultivation and uses

The wood is extremely hard and resistant and that is why it is used for elaborating tool handles, it is also planted as an ornamental tree because it blooms abundantly and is very fragrant. Its flowers are important for honey production.

References
  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2018). "Amomyrtus meli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T131396314A135697499. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T131396314A135697499.en. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  2. García, N., y C. Ormazábal. Árboles Nativos de Chile (in Spanish). Santiago: Enersis S.A. p. 196.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Zúñiga, Fernando (2022). Mapudungun. El habla mapuche [Mapudungun. The mapuche tongue] (in Spanish). Fondo de Cultura Económica. ISBN 9789562892490.
  4. https://tropicos.org/name/22101457
  5. WFO (2023): Amomyrtus meli (Phil.) D.Legrand & Kausel. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000962868. Accessed on: 02 Apr 2023
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