Gomortega facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gomortega |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Gomortega keule in Biobío Region | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Adenostemum nitidum (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. |
Gomortega keule is a special tree that grows only in Chile. It's also known by its Spanish names keule, queule, and hualhual. This tree is so unique that it's the only species in its entire group, called Gomortega. It's also the only member of its plant family, Gomortegaceae. Scientists place it in a larger group of plants called Laurales.
What the Keule Tree Looks Like
The Gomortega keule is an evergreen tree, meaning it keeps its leaves all year round. It has a pleasant smell and gray bark with small cracks. Its leaves are simple, meaning they are not divided into smaller leaflets. They are also thick and leathery. The branches of the tree have a square shape.
The fruit of the keule tree is yellow and can be eaten. It's a type of fruit called a drupe, which means it has a fleshy outside and a hard pit inside, like a peach. The fruit is usually about 3 to 4.5 centimeters (about 1.3 to 1.8 inches) wide. It tastes sweet and is often picked to make a type of marmalade. Each fruit usually has one or two seeds inside.
Where the Keule Tree Grows
The Gomortega keule tree grows only in a very small area along the coast of Central Chile. You can find it in special forests like the Maulino forest and parts of the Chilean matorral. It's a key tree in the Maulino forest, growing alongside other important trees like Nothofagus glauca and Nothofagus alessandrii.
Sadly, the Gomortega keule is an endangered species. Its natural home, the Maulino forest, has been mostly cut down. This land is now used for farming or for growing other trees like pine and eucalyptus for wood. Because of this, the remaining keule trees are spread out in small, separate groups. They have also been harmed by large fires, including the big 2017 Chile wildfires. To help protect these trees, some areas where they grow are now protected, such as Los Queules National Reserve and Los Ruiles National Reserve.
See also
- In Spanish: Gomortegáceas para niños
- Beilschmiedia berteroana
