Ugni

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:'
 Ugni candollei (Barnéoud) O.Berg: Chile
 Ugni molinaeTurcz.: Chile and Argentina
 Ugni myricoides (Kunth) O.Berg: Southern Mexico, Central America to Bolivia, Venezuela and northern Brazil
 Ugni selkirkii (Hook. & Arn.) O.Berg: Endemic species of the Juan Fernández Islands, Chile

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

References

Other websites

 Ugni in Encyclopedia of the Chilean Flora
 Ugni molinae at ChileBosque 
 Flora of Chile: Ugni
 Trees and shrubs of Ecuador: Ugni

Category:Shrubs
Category:Myrtaceae