- Gevuina avellana
taxobox
image_caption = Chilean hazel with flowers and fruits
regnum =Plantae
unranked_divisio =Angiosperms
unranked_classis =Eudicots
ordo =Proteales
familia =Proteaceae
genus = "Gevuina"
species = "G. avellana"
binomial = "Gevuina avellana"
binomial_authority = (Molina) Gaertn.|"Gevuina avellana" (Chilean hazel, "avellano chileno" in Spanish) is an
evergreen tree of the familyProteaceae , up to 20 meters (65 feet) tall. It is native to southernChile andArgentina . It is found from sea level to 700 meters (2300 feet) above sea level. Its distribution extends from 35° to 44° south latitude. The composite leaves are bright green and toothed, and the tree is in flower between July and November. Theflower s are very small and beige to whitish, are bisexual and group two by two in long racemes. Thefruit is a dark red nut when young and turns black. It can grow up straight or branched from the soil.Uses and cultivation
The
seed s are eaten raw or toasted. Thenut s contain about 12 percent protein, 49 percent oil, and 24 percent carbohydrates. [ Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9] The seed has a very high concentration of monosaturated oil and is also obtained for several purposes in Chile. It is rich inantioxidant s and helps fighting cholesterol. The nut is a good source of Vitamin E (a-tocotrienol) and b-carotene. Its oil is useful for elaboratingsunscreen in pharmaceutical industry. Gevuina Oil is a used as cosmetic ingredient for treatment of skin owing to its moisturizing qualities and because is a natural source ofOmega 7 (Palmitoleic acid ). [A Bertoli, C. et al. Characterization of Chilean hazelnut (Gevuina avellana Mol) seed oil. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society) August 1998. Vol. 75, N° 8, pages 1037-1040.] [FR 2681530 A1 (SO.F.I.A. Cosmetiques (S.A.R.L.)) 26.03.1993] The tree is a good honey plant for bees. Seed shells containtannin that is used fortanning leather. It is cultivated as ornamental. It has an acceptable frost resistance (at least −12 °C (10 °F)) when mature. The wood is is cream-colored with dark brown streaking and is used in cabinetry and musical instruments.It was introduced inGreat Britain in 1826. It grows well in there and inNew Zealand andCalifornia . There are a few specimens cultivated inSpain [cite web | url=http://www.arrakis.es/~jmanuel/Plantaschilenas.pdf | title=Chilean plants cultivated in Spain] and thePacific Northwest of theUnited States . [cite web | url=http://www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/ArboretumReport.pdf | title="Gevuina avellana" in Washington Park Arboretum] It grows well in temperate oceanic climates with cool temperatures where frosts occur commonly in winter, and that is why it has thrived in southern New Zealand. It lasts 5 years to be harvested and 7 or 8 years for full production. InSeattle, Washington ,squirrel s and birds eat seeds from the trees. Most of nuts that are for sale are gathered in southern hemisphere's autumn (March and April), but new varieties of greater yield are being developed in Chile and New Zealand.References and external links
*Rodríguez, Roberto; Mathei, Oscar y Quezada, Max. 1983. Flora arbórea de Chile. Universidad de Concepción. 408p.
*Donoso, C. 2005. Árboles nativos de Chile. Guía de reconocimiento. Edición 4. Marisa Cuneo Ediciones, Valdivia, Chile. 136p.
*Hoffman, A. 1982. Flora silvestre de Chile zona araucana. Edición 4. Ediciones Fundación Claudio Gay, Santiago, Chile. 258p.
*Muñoz, M. 1980. Flora del Parque Nacional Puyehue. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago, Chile. 557p.
* [http://www.florachilena.cl/Niv_tax/Angiospermas/Ordenes/Proteales/Proteaceae/Avellano/Avellano.htm"Gevuina avellana" in "Enciclopedia de la Flora Chilena"]
* [http://www.southlandnz.com/crops2004/cropdatasheets/Treecrops/gevuina/"Gevuina avellana" in New Zealand]
* [http://www.esveld.nl/htmldiaen/g/geavel.htm"Gevuina avellana in Scotland"]
* [http://www.actahort.org/books/556/556_76.htm"Gevuina avellana": potential for commercial nuts]
* [http://www.crop.cri.nz/home/products-services/publications/broadsheets/042gevuina.pdf"a cool climate nut of the Proteaceae plant tropical family"]
* [http://www.rjb.csic.es/fichaplanta.php?idplanta=46004"Gevuina avellana" in the Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid, Spain]
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