Gomortega
Gomortega club is the only species in the plant family of Gomortegaceae. The evergreen tree grows only in a small area in central Chile.
- 5.1 Notes and references
- 5.2 External links
Features
Habit and stem
The trees are quite large and can reach a height of around 30 meters and a trunk diameter of about one meter. The nodes are unilakunär with two leaf-trace strands. The secondary growth takes place normally. The plastids of the sieve tubes are P-type.
The leaves are evergreen, opposite, glossy and leathery. The leaf blade is undivided, narrowly elliptic, the blade edge is all about. The leaves are stalked and have no stipules. The size is 5-12 x 2-4.5 cm. The stomata are paracytisch. In the mesophyll cells are round to using essential oils. Thus, the plant has an aromatic odor.
Inflorescences and flowers
The inflorescences are terminal or axillary. There are racemöse inflorescences. The flowers have two bracts. The hermaphrodite flowers are always rather small (5-9 mm) and regular, partially acyclic, that is arranged in a spiral.
The perianth ( perianth ) is sepal - like and consists of (five) seven (nine) non- mature leaves that are spirally and are smaller towards the center.
The androecium is (seven) nine ( thirteen ) - merous. The stamens are spirally arranged and fused with either the perianth or each other. Frequently staminodes are present: the outer stamens are petal - like and have no anthers. Between the fertile stamens and the ovary are usually ( a ) three (four) reduced, sterile stamens. The number of fertile stamens is five to ten times eight. The anthers open with longitudinal flaps. The pollen is used in individual grains, the pollen grains are non- aperturat.
The gynoecium consists of two (three) carpels. The stamp is therefore in two (three) subjects. The ovary is inferior and synkarp. There is a short, dreinarbigen stylus. The placentation is apically, each subject there is a hanging, anatrope ovule. Flowering period is March and April.
Fruits
Gomortega lobe forms yellow, edible drupe with a hard endocarp. They usually contain a seed with rich oily endosperm. The fruit is 3.5-7 x 2-5 inches tall and oval to spherical. Fruit ripening in April and May.
The chromosome number is 2n = 42
Dissemination
The species is endemic to Chile, and comes only in the regions VII ( Maule ) and VIII ( Región del Bío -Bío ) ago.
The IUCN classified the species as endangered. Reasons are habitat loss through agriculture, deforestation and fire.
System
The sister clan within the Laurales are the Atherospermataceae. The common features are the presence of bud scales; Siebröhrenplastiden with fibrils; the outer, not the inner stamens are converted to staminodes; and a short pen.
Synonyms for Gomortega club are: lucuma club- Molina; Gomortega nitida R. y Pav; Adenostemum nitidum Per; Keulia chilensis Molina; Gomortega Keale Baill. and Gomortega lobe ( Molina ) Johnson.
Use
The fruits are edible and are made into jam and liqueur. Leaves and flowers are used for decoration. The wood was processed earlier because of its easy workability to furniture.
Swell
The article is based primarily on the following links:
- Gomortegaceae on the APWebsite (English )
- Gomortegaceae in L. Watson and M. J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards ), The families of flowering plants