''Eucryphia cordifolia'', the ulmo, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of tree in the family Cunoniaceae. It is found in Chile and Argentina. It is threatened by logging and

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss or habitat reduction) occurs when a natural habitat is no longer able to support its native species. The organisms once living there have either moved elsewhere, or are dead, leading to a decrease ...

. The natural habitat is along the

Andes The Andes ( ), Andes Mountains or Andean Mountain Range (; ) are the List of longest mountain chains on Earth, longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range ...

Range from 38 to 43°S, and up to 700 meters (2300 ft) above sea level. It is an exquisite tree with a thick trunk and broad crown and can become over 12 m (39 ft) high. It blooms in February and March, depending on latitude and altitude. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

is a capsule about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in length.

Cultivation and uses

Its flowers contain a highly appreciated aromatic

nectar Nectar is a viscous, sugar-rich liquid produced by Plant, plants in glands called nectaries, either within the flowers with which it attracts pollination, pollinating animals, or by extrafloral nectaries, which provide a nutrient source to an ...

, harvested by introduced European bees and commercialized as ulmo honey (''miel de Ulmo''). The wood is light brown to brown, heavy, moderately firm, rather hard and quite resistant to decay. It is used locally for construction and very extensively as firewood. It grows well on the western coast of Scotland, UK, where several notable specimens exist, including possibly the most northerly cultivated example at Inverewe Garden. It dislikes cold winters. It can also be found in southern England and the island of Ireland. It has been planted in the North Pacific Coast of the United States.

Chemical composition

Eucryphin, a chromone rhamnoside, can be isolated from the bark of ''E. cordifolia''.Eucryphin, a new chromone rhamnoside from the bark of Eucryphia cordifolia. R. Tschesche, S. Delhvi, S. Sepulveda and E. Breitmaier, Phytochemistry, Volume 18, Issue 5, 1979, pages 867-869,

References

External links

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{{Authority control cordifolia Flora of the Andes Flora of Argentina Flora of Chile Trees of mild maritime climate Trees of Chile Flora of the Valdivian temperate forests Near threatened flora of South America Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Taxa named by Antonio José Cavanilles