| Tepú | |
|---|---|
| Tepú in flower | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | angiosperms |
| (unranked): | eudicots |
| (unranked): | rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Tepualia Griseb. |
| Species: | T. stipularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Tepualia stipularis (Hook. & Arn.) Griseb. |
|
Tepualia is a monotypic genus of the myrtle family containing only the species Tepualia stipularis, which is commonly known as tepú, trepú, or tepual. It is an evergreen tree or shrub that can attain a height of about seven metres. The plant is native to southern South America in the southern portions of Chile and Argentina and is a typical resident of very wet areas, especially peat bogs. Tepú has white flowers that emerge during the austral summer from January through March. The tree's wood is used within its range as a firewood due to it high energy content.[1]