Amomyrtus meli
Encyclopedia
Amomyrtus meli, known as Meli, is a species of tree
endemic to Chile
in the Myrtaceae
family. It grows from Arauco
to Chiloe
(37 to 42°S). It grows mostly on moist and shaded sites.
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 leave
s 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 sepal
s and 5 free white petal
s about 3–4 mm long. The stamen
s 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.
name of the tree.
production.
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
endemic to Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
in the Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
family. It grows from Arauco
Arauco Province
Arauco Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . It spans a coastal area of just south of the mouth of the Biobío River, the traditional demarcation between the nation's major natural regions, Zona Central and Zona Sur...
to Chiloe
Chiloé Province
Chiloé Province is one of the four provinces in the southern Chilean region of Los Lagos . It encompasses all of Chiloé Archipelago with the exception of the Desertores Islands. The province spans a surface area of...
(37 to 42°S). It grows mostly on moist and shaded sites.
Description
It is an evergreenEvergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
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 leave
Leave
Leave may refer to:* Leave , a 2002 Mandopop album* "Leave ", a 2004 R&B song* "Leave" , a 2000 pop rock song...
s are opposite, oval, lanceolate or elliptical with acute apex
Apex
Apex may refer to:- Biology :* Apex , the tip of the spire of the shell of a gastropod* Apex is the Apical meristem or its remnant on a flower...
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
Amomyrtus luma
Amomyrtus luma, known as Luma, is a species of tree in the Myrtaceae family. It is native to Chile and Argentina. It grows from Colchagua to Aysen...
, species to which it resembles very much, The flowers are hermaphrodite
Hermaphrodite
In biology, a hermaphrodite is an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with both male and female sexes.Many taxonomic groups of animals do not have separate sexes. In these groups, hermaphroditism is a normal condition, enabling a form of sexual reproduction in which both...
, 5 fused sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and 5 free white petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s about 3–4 mm long. The stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s are numerous 40-80 and 5–7 mm long The fruit is a black purplish-black berry
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
, 5–8 mm in diameter, generally with 3 seeds about 3-4.5 mm.
Etymology
The name Amoyrtus from the Greek Amos; very fragrant, Myrtus is the family's name and Luma mapucheMapudungun
The Mapuche language, Mapudungun is a language isolate spoken in south-central Chile and west central Argentina by the Mapuche people. It is also spelled Mapuzugun and sometimes called Mapudungu or Araucanian...
name of the tree.
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 honeyHoney
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
production.