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Useful Temperate Plants

Amomyrtus meli

(Phil.) D.Legrand & Kausel

Myrtaceae

+ Synonyms

Myrtus meli Phil.

Pseudocaryophyllus meli (Phil.) Burret

Common Name:

Amomyrtus meli
The fragrant flowers, on a plant at the botanical gardens of San Francisco
Photograph by: Dick Culbert
Creative Commons License
Amomyrtus meli Amomyrtus meli Amomyrtus meli Amomyrtus meli

General Information

Amomyrtus meli is an evergreen shrub or a tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall, though usually smaller in cultivation[
1065
Title
The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile
Publication
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Vol. 45 No. 12 pp 277 - 317
Author
Landrum L.R.
Publisher
The California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1988
ISBN
0068-547X
Description
An enumeration of the Myrtaceae in Chile, describing the plants and their habitats, often including their uses.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood. The dried leaves are sold for medicinal use[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1065
Title
The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile
Publication
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Vol. 45 No. 12 pp 277 - 317
Author
Landrum L.R.
Publisher
The California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1988
ISBN
0068-547X
Description
An enumeration of the Myrtaceae in Chile, describing the plants and their habitats, often including their uses.

Range

S. America - southern and central Chile

Habitat

Wet forests in upland habitats[
1065
Title
The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile
Publication
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Vol. 45 No. 12 pp 277 - 317
Author
Landrum L.R.
Publisher
The California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1988
ISBN
0068-547X
Description
An enumeration of the Myrtaceae in Chile, describing the plants and their habitats, often including their uses.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height5.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Amomyrtus meliis is not very winter hardy, tolerating winter frosts with temperatures that sometimes fall as low as -5°c. In its native range in Chile it experiences rain all year round and can be found at elevations from near sea level to around 2,000 metres[
330
Title
ChileFlora
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.chileflora.com/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Not realy a flora, but a lovely site with lots of helpful information for the gardener and an abundance of excellent photos covering over 2,000 species of Chilean plants.
].
Succeeds in any reasonably good soil[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
] including dry ones. Prefers a moderately fertile well-drained loam in a sunny position[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Dislikes cold drying winds[
182
Title
Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos.
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1992
ISBN
0-7195-5043-2
Description
Contains a wide range of plants with a brief description, mainly of their ornamental value but also usually of cultivation details and varieties.
].
The plant is strongly aromatic, though this is lost upon drying[
1065
Title
The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile
Publication
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Vol. 45 No. 12 pp 277 - 317
Author
Landrum L.R.
Publisher
The California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1988
ISBN
0068-547X
Description
An enumeration of the Myrtaceae in Chile, describing the plants and their habitats, often including their uses.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[
1065
Title
The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile
Publication
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Vol. 45 No. 12 pp 277 - 317
Author
Landrum L.R.
Publisher
The California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1988
ISBN
0068-547X
Description
An enumeration of the Myrtaceae in Chile, describing the plants and their habitats, often including their uses.
]. Aromatic, it has a pleasant flavour when fully ripe[
1065
Title
The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile
Publication
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Vol. 45 No. 12 pp 277 - 317
Author
Landrum L.R.
Publisher
The California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1988
ISBN
0068-547X
Description
An enumeration of the Myrtaceae in Chile, describing the plants and their habitats, often including their uses.
]. The black, subglobose fruit is around 10 - 15mm in diameter[
1065
Title
The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile
Publication
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Vol. 45 No. 12 pp 277 - 317
Author
Landrum L.R.
Publisher
The California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1988
ISBN
0068-547X
Description
An enumeration of the Myrtaceae in Chile, describing the plants and their habitats, often including their uses.
].

Medicinal

The aromatic leaves are used to make a tea that is said to lower cholesterol levels in the body[
1066
Title
Constituents of the Leaf Extract of Amomyrtus meli (R. A. Philippi) Legrand et Kausel, Amomyrtus luma (Molina) Legra
Publication
Flavour and Fragrance Journal, Vol. 7 pp 247-251
Author
Weyerstahl P., Marschall H., Landrum L.R.
Publisher
 
Year
1992
ISBN
 
Description
A research paper, giving information on plant uses as well as the main constituents of the plant
].

Other Uses

The wood is very hard. It is used for making tool handles, farm equipment etc, and for lumber[
1065
Title
The Myrtle Family (Myrtaceae) in Chile
Publication
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences Vol. 45 No. 12 pp 277 - 317
Author
Landrum L.R.
Publisher
The California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1988
ISBN
0068-547X
Description
An enumeration of the Myrtaceae in Chile, describing the plants and their habitats, often including their uses.
].

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow it in late winter in a greenhouse. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, mid summer in a frame. Pot up in the autumn and overwinter in a cold frame. Plant out in late spring. High percentage[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current seasons growth, 7 - 12cm with a heel, late autumn in a shaded and frost free frame. Plant out in late spring or early autumn. High percentage[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Layering.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Amomyrtus+meli>

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