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Ugni
Ugni molinae.jpg
Ugni molinae
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Subfamily: Myrtoideae
Tribe: Myrteae
Genus: Ugni
Turcz.
Type species
Ugni molinae

Ugni is a genus of plants of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). Four species belong to this genus, all from western America.

Description

They are small evergreen shrubs. The leaves are simple, entire, opposite, elliptical; they are 1–2 cm long and 0.2-2.5 cm broad, dark green, and with a spicy scent if broken into many small pieces.

The solitary flowers are usually hanging; they are 1–2 cm diameter with four or five white or pale pink petals and many short stamens. The fruit is a small red or purple berry, 1 cm in diameter, with many seeds.

Name

The name comes from Uñi with which the Mapuches (native people from south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina) name the fruits of the best known species of the genus, Ugni molinae.

The genus was formerly often included in either Myrtus or Eugenia; it is distinguished from these two genera by the hanging flowers with stamens shorter than the petals.

The Russian botanist Nicolai Stepanowitsch Turczaninow created the genus Ugni in 1849.

Where it grows

All species of this genus are found in western South and Central America, native from southern Mexico to central southern Chile and Argentina.

Species

There are four species in this genus:'

Uses

Ugni molinae is grown as an ornamental plant and for its edible fruits; these fruits are also used to make jams.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ugni para niños

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