''Myrceugenia rufa'' is a species of shrub in the genus ''

Myrceugenia ''Myrceugenia'' is a genus of evergreen woody flowering trees and shrubs belonging to the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, first described as a genus in 1855.

Myrtaceae Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All speci ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to Chile, where it grows in forest remnants near the coast and is considered "endangered".

Description

''Myrceugenia rufa'' is an evergreen shrub growing to a height of about . The young stems are densely pubescent. The small, opposite leaves have hairy petioles and are oval or oblong with entire margins. They have rounded apices and bases and are yellowish-green above and pale green below. The flowers are solitary or in groups of two or three in the axils of the leaves. The flower stems are densely pubescent, the petals are white and there is a boss of sixty to one hundred stamens and a single style. The flowers are followed by berries in diameter which are green at first but later turn yellow and then orange. The flowering period is from August to October and the fruits mature in February and March.Hechenleitner, V.; Gardner, P.M.F.; Thomas, P.I.; Echeverría, C.; Escobar, B.; Brownless, P. 2005. Plantas Amenazadas del Centro-Sur de Chile. Pl. Amenaz. C.-S. Chile 187 p.

Distribution and habitat

''Myrceugenia rufa'' is endemic to Chile where it is restricted to coastal areas from

Coquimbo Region The Coquimbo Region ( es, Región de Coquimbo, ) is one of Chile's 16 regions (first order administrative divisions). It is bordered by Atacama to the north, Valparaíso to the south, Argentina to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

southwards to

San Antonio Province San Antonio Province ( es, Provincia de San Antonio) is one of eight provinces of the central Chilean region of Valparaíso (V). Its capital is the port city of San Antonio (pop. 87,205). Administration As a province, San Antonio is a second-lev ...

. Its altitudinal range is , and it grows on coastal cliffs or within about of the coast, usually occurring in deep creaks and inaccessible places in remnants of forested areas. It is often found growing among other species of myrtle. The fruits are often attacked by insects which feed on the flesh and seeds. It is an uncommon species and its conservation status is considered to be "

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...

".Hechenleitner V., P., M. F. Gardner, P. I. Thomas, C. Echeverría, B. Escobar, P. Brownless & C. M. A. 2005. Plantas Amenazadas del Centro-Sur de Chile. Pl. Amenaz. C.-S. Chile 187 pp.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15373428 Trees of Chile rufa Endemic flora of Chile