Myrceugenia obtusa

Myrceugenia obtusa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Myrceugenia
Species:	M. obtusa
Binomial name
Myrceugenia obtusa (DC.) O.Berg

Myrceugenia obtusa, known as Raran is an evergreen tree endemic to Chile from Coquimbo to Cautin (31 to 38°S). It grows mainly in the coastal mountains on moist sites.

Description

It is an evergreen small tree or shrub that measures up to 8 m (26 ft) tall, greyish bark, newly shoots are reddish and hairy, opposite and leathery leaves with the entire margin, and elliptical to aovate shaped, acute, obtuse and roundish apex. The leaves are 1.3 cm long and 0.6-2.5 cm wide, dark green above and pale green below, glabrous or somewhat pubescent. They possess glands that look like dots.

The flowers are hermaphrodite, solitary and axillary, 4 sepals fused at the base and 4 with free petals. The stamen are very numerous: they vary 90-190 and 4-8 mm long, a style about 5-7 mm long. The fruit is a globose berry, black when mature. Within it there are 3-4 seeds about 4-5 mm long.

Etimology

It is the fusion of the names of the genera Myrcia and Eugenia

Cultivation and uses

It is planted as an ornamental tree in Chile

External links

• "Myrceugenia obtusa". Enciclopedia de la Flora Chilena. http://www.florachilena.cl/Niv_tax/Angiospermas/Ordenes/Myrtales/Myrtaceae/Myrceugenia/obtusa/M_obtusa.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-31. 
• "Myrceugenia obtusa". Chilebosque. http://www.chilebosque.cl/shrb/mobtu.html. Retrieved 2010-03-31.