Murta

Description:

Murta, murtilla, Uñi, mortillo
Superior taxa: Myrtaceae / Myrtales
Arbusto siempreverde que alcanza una altura de hasta 2m. Hojas opuestas, decusadas de forma ovada, lanceolada o elíptica con ápice agudo o acuminado y base aguda. Láminas de 1,4-3,6 x 0,8-2cm, pecíolos acanalados de 2-4mm de largo. Nervio medio acanalado en el haz. Flores hermafroditas, axilares, pedicelos de 1-2,5cm, 4-5 sépalos fusionados y 4-5 pétalos libres de color blanco de 5-8mm de largo, Estambres numerosos 40-60 de 2-4mm de largos, estilo de 4-5mm de largo. El fruto es una baya color roja oscura, subglobosa de hasta 1cm de diámetro (foto derecha), semillas de 1,5-2mm de largo.
Usos: El fruto es comestible y se utiliza para hacer mermelada y jarabe. Murta también es muy utilizada como especie ornamental.

The Ugni is a shrub from 30 cm to 170 cm tall with evergreen foliage. In some exceptional cases the shrub can grow up to 3 m in height. The leaves are opposite, oval, 1–2 cm long and 1-1.5 cm broad, entire, glossy dark green, with a spicy scent if crushed. The flowers are drooping, 1 cm diameter with four or five white or pale pink petals and numerous short stamens; the fruit is a small red, white or purple berry 1 cm diameter. In its natural habitat; the Valdivian temperate rain forests the fruit matures in autumn from March to May.
Ugni molinae, commonly known as Chilean guava, or strawberry myrtle, is a. The Mapuche Native American name is “Uñi”. It is in the same botanical family as the Guava.
The fruit is sometimes marketed as “Ugniberry”, as “New Zealand cranberry” in New Zealand, and the name “Tazziberry” has been trademarked in Australia, but it is not a native plant to these countries.
The fruit is cultivated to a small extent. The usage of the fruit in cuisine is limited to southern Chile where it grows. It is used to make the traditional liqueur Murtado that is made of aguardiente and sugar flavoured by conserving murtas inside the bottle. It is also used to make jam and the Murta con membrillo dessert and in Kuchens.

Habitat:

Murta se distribuye desde Talca hasta Palena (VI a X región), también en Argentina. Habita en sitios húmedos.
Shrub native to Chile and adjacent regions of southern Argentina.

Notes:

Spotted at the Parque alerce costero.