Myrceugenia Leptospermoides
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''Myrceugenia leptospermoides'' 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 small evergreen tree or large shrub in the genus ''
Myrceugenia ''Myrceugenia'' is a genus of evergreen woody flowering trees and shrubs belonging to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1855.
'' of the family
Myrtaceae Myrtaceae (), the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pĹŤhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All ...
. It is commonly known as mocollo, murtilla del malo or chequen. It is
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to central Chile where it is found in riverine habitats in the coastal mountain range at altitudes below .


Description

''Myrceugenia leptospermoides'' grows to a height of about . The bark is pale greyish-brown and the small leaves are in opposite pairs. The twigs are densely pubescent when they first grow but soon lose their hairs. The leaves are up to long and broad, oblong or linear with bluntly-pointed tips, and with entire margins. They are greyish-green above and yellowish-green below, with a fairly prominent midrib on the underside. The flowers, which grow in the axils of the leaves, are solitary and have short stems. The calyx lobes are sometimes hairy and the six petals are white. In the centre of the flower there is a boss of sixty to ninety stamens and a single style. The fruit is a globular berry, ripening to red and finally purple, and about in diameter. The flowering period is February to March and the fruits ripen in July and August.


Distribution and habitat

''Myrceugenia leptospermoides'' is endemic to the coastal area of Chile. It is found from
Ñuble Region The Ñuble Region (, ) officially the Region of Ñuble (), is — since 5 September 2018 – one of Chile's sixteen regions of Chile, regions. It spans an area of , making it the smallest region in Chile in terms of area, and is administratively ...
southwards to
CautĂ­n Province CautĂ­n Province () is one of two Provinces of Chile, provinces in the southern Chilean Regions of Chile, region of La AraucanĂ­a Region, La AraucanĂ­a (IX), bounded on the north by Arauco Province, Arauco and Malleco Province, Malleco provinces, ...
. Its typical habitat is in wet or misty locations and it is often found growing with other undergrowth shrubs, near rivers and lakes or on damp forested slopes. It occurs at altitudes up to about . It is an uncommon species and its conservation status is considered to be "
endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...
".Hechenleitner V., P., M. F. Gardner, P. I. Thomas, C. EcheverrĂ­a, B. Escobar, P. Brownless & C. M. A. 2005. Plantas Amenazadas del Centro-Sur de Chile. Pl. Amenaz. C.-S. Chile 187 pp.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15374125 Trees of Chile leptospermoides Endemic flora of Chile