| Embothrium coccineum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flowers inTorres del Paine National Park | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Embothrium |
| Species: | E. coccineum |
| Binomial name | |
| Embothrium coccineum | |
Embothrium coccineum,Chilean firetree orChilean firebush, commonly known in Chile and Argentina asnotro,ciruelillo andfósforo is a smallevergreentree in theflowering plant familyProteaceae. It grows in the temperate forests ofChile andArgentina.
The Chilean firetree grows 4–15 m (13–50 ft) tall and can reach 50 cm (20 in) in diameter. The bark is dark grey with light spots and the wood is light pink in colour. It produces clusters of deep redflowers (occasionally pale yellow) andflowering occurs in spring. Thefruit is a dryfollicle, with about 10seeds inside.
It is pollinated by both hummingbirds and insects in its natural range.[1]
Like other members of the family Proteaceae,E. coccineum seedlings produce dense root masses calledcluster roots or proteoid roots that provide access to normally inaccessible forms of various nutrients, especiallyphosphorus. Cluster roots exude acidic substances which are able to convert the otherwise inaccessible forms of nutrients into forms that are biologically useful. These nutrients are then made available to other plants from theleaf litter ofE. coccineum, making it a valuable keystone plant in certain terrains.[2]
It is grown as an ornamental inGreat Britain and theUnited States, and as far north as theFaroe Islands at 62° North latitude.The plant was introduced to Europe byWilliam Lobb during hisplant collecting expedition to theValdivian temperate forests in 1845–1848. It was described byKew Gardens as:
"Perhaps no tree cultivated in the open air in the British Isles gives so striking and brilliant a display as this does."[3]
The wood being very soft but durable, is used for makingspoons,kitchen vessels and other craft articles.
