Gomortega | |
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Gomortega keule in Biobío Region | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Magnoliids |
Order: | Laurales |
Family: |
Gomortegaceae Reiche |
Genus: |
Gomortega Ruiz & Pav. |
Species: | G. keule |
Binomial name | |
Gomortega keule (Molina) Baillon |
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Gomortega keule (syn. G. nitida; Spanish names keule, queule, and hualhual) is a tree native to Chile. It is the sole species of the genus Gomortega and, according to the APG II system of 2003 (unchanged from the APG system of 1998), of the monotypic family Gomortegaceae, assigned to the order Laurales in the clade magnoliids.
The plant grows only in a very narrow habitat range in coastal central Chile, with an example ecoregion of occurrence being the Chilean matorral. The species is endangered of extinction due to overharvesting, clearing the forests where it is found for agriculture and silviculture.
Gomortega keule produces a yellow edible sweet fruit about 34–45 millimetres (1.3–1.8 in) in diameter, harvested for making a kind of marmalade.