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| Gomortega | |
|---|---|
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| Gomortega keule inBiobío Region | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Gomortegaceae Reiche[2] |
| Genus: | Gomortega Ruiz &Pav. |
| Species: | G. keule |
| Binomial name | |
| Gomortega keule | |
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| Synonyms | |
Adenostemum nitidum(Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. | |
Gomortega keule (syn.G. nitida;Spanish nameskeule,queule, andhualhual) is a species of tree endemic toChile. It is the sole species of the genusGomortega and, according to theAPG IV system of 2016 (unchanged from the APG systems of2009,2003 and1998), of themonotypic familyGomortegaceae, assigned to the orderLaurales in the clademagnoliids.[3]
Evergreen trees, aromatic, gray bark with shallow longitudinal fissures. The leaves are petiolate, simple, entire, obovate to lanceolate, coriaceous. The stems have unilacunar nodes and with two foliar traces. The branches are quadrangular.
The edible fruit is a uni- ortri-locular yellow drupe, usually with 1 (-2) seeds, fleshy mesocarp, pleasant, stony endocarp. There are 1-2 seeds per fruit, with abundant, oily endosperm, large embryo, dicotyledonous. The fruit is about 34–45 millimetres (1.3–1.8 in) in diameter and edible and sweet, and harvested for making a kind ofmarmalade.
The chromosome number is n = 21, 2n = 42.
Gomortega keule grows only in a very narrow habitat range in coastalCentral Chile, including theMaulino forest[4] and parts of theChilean matorral.[5] It is a characteristic tree species of theMaulino forest alongsideNothofagus glauca,Nothofagus ×leoni, andNothofagus alessandrii.[4]
The species is threatened by habitat loss. The Maulino forest has mostly been cleared for agriculture and tree plantations ofPinus radiata andEucalyptus globulus. The species' remaining habitat is fragmented, and its populations isolated. It has been affected by fires, including the2017 Chile wildfires. Populations are protected atLos Queules National Reserve andLos Ruiles National Reserve.[1]
Media related toGomortega keule at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toGomortega keule at Wikispecies
