Biology:Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii
Temu (Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii) - mature fruits (Inao Vásquez) 001.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Blepharocalyx
Species:
B. cruckshanksii
Binomial name
Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii
(H. & A.) Nied.

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

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 english).

References

  1. González, M. (1998). "Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) 1998: e.T38265A10104209. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T38265A10104209.en. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/38265/0. Retrieved 20 December 2017. 

Wikidata ☰ Q1342441 entry