Arrayán [Chilean Native American (Mapuche) name for hardwood of Amomyrtus luma]

Leslie R. Landrum

Shrubs or small trees, glabrous or pubescent, hairs simple. Leaves opposite; blade venation brochidodromous. Inflorescences 1 or 3-flowered, axillary, solitary flowers or dichasia. Flowers 4-merous, sessile or pedicellate; hypanthium obconic to campanulate; calyx green, lobes distinct; petals white; stamens 170–300; ovary 2-locular; ovules 6–14 per locule. Fruits berries, dark purple, subglobose, crowned by calyx lobes. Seeds 1–16, lenticular; seed coat membranous; embryo lenticular; cotyledons suborbicular, separate, thinly plano-convex; hypocotyls cylindri­cal, about as long as cotyledons.

Species 2 (1 in the flora): introduced, California; South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru); introduced also in temperate regions.

Lower Taxon

• Luma apiculata (de Candolle) Burret