Drimys

For other uses, see Drimys (disambiguation).

Drimys
D. winteri flowers
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Magnoliids
Order:	Canellales
Family:	Winteraceae
Genus:	Drimys J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
Species
See text

Drimys is a genus of about eight species of woody evergreen flowering plants, in the family Winteraceae. The species are native to the Neotropics, ranging from southern Mexico to the southern tip of South America. The Winteraceae are primitive dicots, associated with the humid temperate Antarctic flora of the southern hemisphere, which evolved millions of years ago on the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Members of the family generally have aromatic bark and leaves, and some are used to extract essential oils.

Selected species

• Drimys andina (Reiche) R.A.Rodr. & Quez. (syn. D. winteri var. andina). Chile and adjacent Argentina.
• Drimys brasiliensis Miers Southern Brazil to southern Mexico.
• Drimys confertifolia Phil. Juan Fernández Islands.
• Drimys granadensis L.f. Southern Mexico south to Peru.
• Drimys winteri J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. Southern Chile, southwestern Argentina.

Drimys confertifolia is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands, 670 km off the Chilean coast, where it forms a dominant tree in the tall lowland forests and lower montane forests of the islands.

The genus formerly included a number of species from Australasia, including Tasmanian Pepper (D. lanceolata). Recent botanical studies have led to a growing consensus of botanists to split the genus into two, with the Neotropical species remaining in genus Drimys, and the Australasian species classified in genus Tasmannia (Doust et al. 2004).

References and external links

• Doust, Andrew N. and Drinnan, Andrew N. 2004. Floral development and molecular phylogeny support the generic status of Tasmannia (Winteraceae). American Journal of Botany 91: 321-331, available online (pdf).
• Enciclopedia de la Flora Chilena: Drimys
• Chilebosque: Drimys winteri
• Chilebosque: Drimys andina