The Endemic Plants of Chile

Place of Publication

U.S. Expl. Exped., Phan.: 536 (1854)

Synonyms

• Eugenia bella Phil
• Eugenia chequen Molina
• Eugenia gayana Barnéoud
• Eugenia myrtomimeta Diels
• Eugenia pulchra O. Berg
• Luma gayana (Barnéoud) Burret
• Myrceugenella chequen (Molina) Kausel
• Myrceugenella chequen (Molina) Kausel var.  myrtomimeta
• Myrceugenella gayana (Barnéoud) Kausel,
• Myrceugenella langerfeldtii Kausel
• Myrtus chequen (Molina) Spreng.
• Myrtus gayana (Barnéoud) O. Berg
• Myrtus uliginosa Miq.
• Myrtus uliginosa Miq. f.  major

Common names

• chequén (Landrum (1986))
• arrayán blanco (Landrum (1988))

References

• Gray A. (1854)

  Gray, A. 1854. United States exploring expedition during the years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842, under the command or Charles Wilkes, U.S.N. Botany. Phanerogamia. Vol. 1 Philadelphia. 777 pp.

• Landrum (1988)

  Landrum, L R 1988. The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 45(12):277-317

Regions

Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Metropolitana, Del General Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Biobío, Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos and Ñuble

Distribution and habitat

Widely distributed from Coquimbo to Llanquihue although more concentrated in the coastal cordillera and Central Depression. It occurs from sea level to 1000 m and typically grows in damp and poorly drained areas often with other members of the Myrtle family.

Descriptions

• Landrum (1988)

Habit

Evergreen shrub or tree to 9 m tall. Flowers from November to April but mostly from December to March. Fruits maturing February and March (Landrum, 1988).

Key characteristics

This species could be confused with Luma apiculata but it is easily distinguished by the leaves being covered with glands. In the southern end of its distribution this species can have small leaves and in the past these plants were referred to as Luma gayana (Barnéoud) Burret.