Temu cruckshanksii

Temu cruckshanksii (Mapudungun: temu) is a species of plant in the family Myrtaceae.[1][2] It is endemic to Chile. It is threatened by habitat loss. The purported variety "Heaven Scent" sold commercially is likely just the unimproved plant.

Temu cruckshanksii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Temu
O.Berg (1861)[2]
Species:
T. cruckshanksii
Binomial name
Temu cruckshanksii
(Hook. & Arn.) O.Berg (1861)[2]
Synonyms[2]
Synonymy
  • Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii (Hook. & Arn.) Nied. (1893)
  • Blepharocalyx divaricatus (O.Berg) Nied. (1893)
  • Blepharocalyx divaricatus var. obovatus (O.Berg) Reiche (1897)
  • Blepharocalyx divaricatus var. ovalis (O.Berg) Reiche (1897)
  • Blepharocalyx divaricatus var. pauciflorus (O.Berg) Reiche (1897)
  • Eugenia cruckshanksii Hook. & Arn. (1833)
  • Eugenia divaricata O.Berg (1856), nom. illeg.
  • Eugenia divaricata var. obovata O.Berg (1856)
  • Eugenia divaricata var. ovalis O.Berg in Linnaea 27: 258 (1856)
  • Eugenia divaricata var. pauciflora O.Berg (1856)
  • Eugenia elliptica Phil. (1865), nom. illeg.
  • Luma cruckshanksii (Hook. & Arn.) A.Gray (1853)
  • Myrtus cruckshanksii (Hook. & Arn.) Kuntze (1898)
  • Temu divaricatum O.Berg (1861)

Taxonomy

The species was described as Temu cruckshanksii by Otto Karl Berg in 1861,[3] but was later placed in the genus Blepharocalyx. It was returned to Temu after a phylogenetic analyses of tribe Mytreae found Blepharocalyx to be polyphyletic.[2][4]

Description

The plant grows to be 15 meters with a trunk diameter of approximately 50 centimeters. The bark is smooth and reddish brown. Leaves are oval-shaped, while the flowers are white and arranged in inflorescences. Fruits are round, dark brown with hints of reddish tone, and taste bitter.

The toponym Temuco (city in Chile) comes from this tree, meaning in mapuzungun "Temu water" or "temu in the water" ("co" means water in Mapuche).

Range and habitat

Temu cruckshanksii is native to central Chile, ranging from Aconcagua in Valparaíso Region in the north to Llanquihue in Los Lagos Region in the south.[1]

It grows in temperate forests, and in relict coastal forests in the mediterranean-climate north. It grows in humid and shady places or on the banks of watercourses in both the Chilean Coast Range and the foothills of the Andes from 400 to 1,000 meters elevation. It does not tolerate regular snow, but can withstand occasional short-duration frosts to approximately -5 °C.[1]

References
  1. Torres Poblete, D.A. (2022). "Temu cruckshanksii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T38265A209452542. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T38265A209452542.en. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  2. "Temu cruckshanksii". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  3. "Temu cruckshanksii". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  4. Vasconcelos, Thais N.C.; Proença, Carol E.B.; Ahmad, Berhaman; Aguilar, Daniel S.; Aguilar, Reinaldo; Amorim, Bruno S.; Campbell, Keron; Costa, Itayguara R.; De-Carvalho, Plauto S.; Faria, Jair E.Q.; Giaretta, Augusto; Kooij, Pepijn W.; Lima, Duane F.; Mazine, Fiorella F.; Peguero, Brigido; Prenner, Gerhard; Santos, Matheus F.; Soewarto, Julia; Wingler, Astrid; Lucas, Eve J. (2017). "Myrteae phylogeny, calibration, biogeography and diversification patterns: Increased understanding in the most species rich tribe of Myrtaceae". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 109: 113–137. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2017.01.002. hdl:10468/4421.
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