Ugni
| Ugni | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Ugni molinae | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Ugni Turcz. |
| Species | |
Ugni is a genus of about 10 species of plants in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, native to western South America and Central America from the Valdivian temperate rain forests of southern Chile and adjacent regions of southern Argentina, north to southern Mexico, and also the Juan Fernández Islands of Chile.
They are shrubs with evergreen foliage, reaching 1–5 m tall. The leaves are opposite, oval, 1–4 cm long and 0.2-2.5 cm broad, entire, glossy dark green, with a spicy scent if crushed. The flowers are drooping, 1–2 cm diameter with four or five white or pale pink petals and numerous short stamens; the fruit is a small red or purple berry 1 cm diameter.
Selected species
|
Ugni angustifolia Burret |
|
Ugni myricoides O.Berg |
Etymology
The scientific name derives from the Mapuche Native American name Uñi for U. molinae. The genus was formerly often included in either Myrtus or Eugenia; it is distinguished from these by the drooping flowers with stamens shorter than the petals.
Uses
Ugni molinae (syn. Myrtus ugni, Eugenia ugni) is grown as an ornamental plant for its edible (The "Ugniberry" or "strawberry-flavoured berries"). Some commercial "strawberry flavouring" is made from this species, not from strawberries. Myrtus ugni fruits are oblate and up to 1.5 cm in diameter with a purplish to deep cranberry color. They are used to make piquant drinks, desserts, jams, and jellies.[2]
Sources
- ^ "Query Results for Genus Ugni". IPNI . Retrieved September 6, 2009.
- ^ [1]
