Luma (plant)

Not to be confused with Amomyrtus luma.

Luma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Luma A.Gray
Species
Two species; see text

Luma is a genus of two species of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, native to the Valdivian temperate rain forests of southwestern South America. They are shrubs or small trees with evergreen foliage and smooth red or orange bark, typically reaching 10–20 m tall and up to 1 m trunk diameter. The leaves are opposite, oval, 1–5 cm long and 0.5–3 cm broad, entire, glossy dark green, with a spicy scent if crushed. The flowers are 2 cm diameter with four white petals and numerous stamens; the fruit is a small purple or black berry 1 cm diameter.

The genus name derives from the Mapuche Native American name for a related species, Amomyrtus luma.

Species

• Luma apiculata (Arrayán or Temu)
• Luma chequen (syn. L. gayana; Chequén or Huillipeta)