''Myrcianthes coquimbensis'', commonly called lucumillo, is an evergreen shrub of the genus ''

Myrcianthes ''Myrcianthes'' is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae described as a genus in 1856.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 to the

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. ...

of Chile and 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 ...

. Produces an edible fruit.

Description

''Myrcianthes coquimbensis'' is a small rounded, aromatic, dense shrub growing to a height of about 1.5 metres (5 feet). The leaves are short-stalked, evergreen, oval or elliptical, with entire margins that are often downrolled. They are leathery with bluntly rounded tips, and are long and wide. The lateral veins are nearly perpendicular to the central vein. The small flowers either grow singly or in groups of three, the central one being sessile and the side ones having short stalks. The five

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s are white and there is a boss of protruding

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s. The fruit is a edible fleshy berry containing one or two seeds and is topped by the remains of the five persistent

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s. The fruit has a diameter of and turns red when ripe.

Distribution and habitat

''Myrcianthes coquimbensis'' is endemic to Chile. Its range extends for about along the coast of the

Elqui Province Elqui Province ( es, Provincia de Elqui) is a province in the Chilean region of Coquimbo (IV). The provincial capital is the city of Coquimbo. Geography and demography According to the 2012 census by the National Statistics Institute (''INE''), ...

in the Chilean region of Coquimbo. It typically grows on coastal rocks located on slopes that are almost constantly moist with mists blown in from the Pacific Ocean, although some plants grow in other locations. This species is often associated with a community of other plants and shrubs including '' Bridgesia incisifolia'', '' Oxalis gigantea'', '' Heliotropium stenophyllum'', ''

Bahia ambrosioides ''Bahia ambrosioides'' is a South American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Chile including the Juan Fernández Islands.Zuloaga, F. O., O. Morrone, M. J. Belgrano, C. Marticorena & E. Marchesi. (eds.) 2008. C ...

'' and '' Polyachyrus poeppigii''. The conservation status of this shrub is considered to be "endangered" because of habitat loss, failure of the shrub to flower and fruit, and consequent lack of recruitment of young plants.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q9047577 Endemic flora of Chile Trees of Chile coquimbensis

Description

Distribution and habitat

See also

References