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Maytenus magellanica (hard log mayten; leña dura in Spanish) is a small evergreen tree from the genus Maytenus, up to 5 meters (16 ft), in the Celastraceae. It grows in southern Argentina and Chile from 36ºS to Cape Horn (56ºS). It has toothed leaves and is used as ornamental. As its native range includes the subpolar Tierra del Fuego, the plant's hardiness is appreciated and it has been successfully introduced in the Faroe islands. It has been also planted in the North Pacific Coast of the United States[1].
[edit] Description
Leaves alternate, petiole 2-6 mm long, laminae elliptic-lanceolate 2-6 x 1,5-3 cm, thick and coriaceous, apex and base attenuate, irregularly serrate margins. Stipules reddish, deciduos. Flowers hermaphrodite or unisexual, in groups of 2-3 on the axillas; 5-sepals about 1 mm long; 5-petals wine colored in 2-3,5 mm, ovary reduced in male flowers with 5 stamens; in female, the ovoid ovary ends in a short style and this in its turn, in flat bilobulate stigmas. Fruit capsule in 6-8 x 5 mm, 2 valves which contain 1 to 2 seeds.
[edit] References and external links
- Benoit, I. L., ed. 1989. Libro Rojo de la Flora Terrestre de Chile (1ª Parte) CONAF. Santiago de Chile. 157 p.
- Hoffman , Adriana. 1982. Flora silvestre de Chile, Zona Araucana. Edición 4. Fundación Claudio Gay, Santiago. 258p.
- Muñoz, M. 1980. Flora del Parque Nacional Puyehue. Editorial Universitaria, Santiago, Chile. 557p.
