Lomatia hirsuta
| Lomatia hirsuta | |
|---|---|
| |
| Radal | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Lomatia |
| Species: | L. hirsuta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lomatia hirsuta Diels ex J.F.Macbr.
| |
Lomatia hirsuta, known as radal, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae. It is a tree native to Argentina, Chile, and Peru. In Chile, it grows from Coquimbo to Chiloe (36 to 42°S). It grows on a variety of soils and humidity. It grows on poor soils near ravines.
Description
[edit]Lomatia hirsuta is an evergreen tree that measures up to 15 m (50 ft) tall and 80 cm (31 in) in diameter. Light-grey bark with longitudinal fissures.
The leaves are alternate, ovate, heart-shaped base, the petioles are about 2–3 cm long, the leaves are 5-20 long and 4–12 cm wide, toothed edge, dark glossy green above and dull below, the nervation is distinct underneath.
The flowers are hermaphrodite, greenish-yellow color, covered in a rusty red, the flowers are arranged in axillary clustered inflorescences. Every flower is formed by four linear tepals, 4 sessile stamens and a shorter style.
The fruit is a greyish-black follicle almost woody and oval-oblong shaped 2–4 cm long, made up by two valves. Brown winged seeds arranged in imbricate form about 15 mm wide and 5.6 mm long.
Etymology
[edit]Lomatia; from the Greek lomas ('fringe'), because of the seeds' edge, hirsuta from the Latin 'hairy'; the Spanish name is 'radal', which in turn comes from Mapudungun radal, the Mapuche name of this plant.
Uses
[edit]The wood has beautiful marks, it is similar to Chilean hazel, but 'less elegant.' The leaves are used for dyeing wood brown color. It has been planted in Spain[1] and in the British Isles as far north as Scotland.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Chilean plants cultivated in Spain" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- ^ "Lomatia hirsuta in Scotland".
External links
[edit]- "Lomatia hirsuta". Enciclopedia de la Flora Chilena. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- "Lomatia hirsuta". Chilebosque. Retrieved 2010-04-03.