Embothrium is a genus of two to eight species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) in the plant family Proteaceae, native to southern South America, in Chile and adjacent western Argentina; the genus occurs as far south as Tierra del Fuego. Common names include Chilean firebush in English, notro in Argentina, ciruelillo, fosforito or notro chileno in Chilean Spanish.
They are large shrubs or trees growing to 10–20 m tall with a trunk up to 70 cm diameter. E. coccineum and perhaps others, is also highly prone to suckering and unmanaged plants often form dense groves of many suckering shoots. The leaves are evergreen, occasionally deciduous in cold areas, 5–12 cm long and 2–4 cm broad. The flowers are produced in dense bunches, brilliant red (rarely white or yellow), tubular, 2.5-4.5 cm long, split into four lobes near the apex which reflex to expose the stamens and style.
One or possibly two extant species are recognised. Two further species, ?E. precoccineum and ?E. pregrandiflorum, have been described from the Ventana Formation (Middle Eocene) from Patagonia, although their placement in Embothrium is uncertain as they are insufficiently known.[1]
Together with Telopea, Oreocallis and Alloxylon, Embothrium makes up a small group of terminal often red-flowering showy plants scattered around the southern edges of the Pacific Rim. Known as the Embothriinae, this is an ancient group with roots in the mid Cretaceous, when Australia, Antarctica and South America were linked by land.[2][3] Almost all these species have red terminal flowers, and hence the subtribe's origin and floral appearance must predate the splitting of gondwana into Australia, Antarctica, and South America over 60 million years ago.
The prominent position and striking colour of many species within the subtribe both in Australia and South America strongly suggest they are adapted to pollination by birds, and have been for over 60 million years.[4] In Argentine Patagonia, E. coccineum is pollinated by hummingbirds (green-backed firecrown) and insects (tangle-veined flies and sweat bees).[5]
Embothrium coccineum is grown as an ornamental plant for its vivid red flowers. It is only successful in oceanic climates, which away from its native area includes western Europe (mainly the British Isles and the Faroe Islands), the coast of the Pacific Northwest of North America, and New Zealand.
Embothrium Bark
Embothrium leaves
Embothrium flowers
Embothrium is a genus of two to eight species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) in the plant family Proteaceae, native to southern South America, in Chile and adjacent western Argentina; the genus occurs as far south as Tierra del Fuego. Common names include Chilean firebush in English, notro in Argentina, ciruelillo, fosforito or notro chileno in Chilean Spanish.
They are large shrubs or trees growing to 10–20 m tall with a trunk up to 70 cm diameter. E. coccineum and perhaps others, is also highly prone to suckering and unmanaged plants often form dense groves of many suckering shoots. The leaves are evergreen, occasionally deciduous in cold areas, 5–12 cm long and 2–4 cm broad. The flowers are produced in dense bunches, brilliant red (rarely white or yellow), tubular, 2.5-4.5 cm long, split into four lobes near the apex which reflex to expose the stamens and style.
Embothrium es un género de plantas con dos a ocho especies (dependiendo de la interpretación taxonómica) en la familia de las Proteaceae, nativa del sur de Sudamérica: Chile, adyacente oeste de Argentina, sur de Perú; llegando tanto al lejano sur como Tierra del Fuego. Esta planta también se conoce como notro, ciruelillo o fosforito.
Gran arbusto o árbol de 10-20 m de altura, y tronco de 7 dm de diámetro. Hojas siempreverdes, ocasionalmente decidua en áreas frías, de 5-12 cm de largo y 2-4 cm de ancho. Flores en densos racimos, rojas brillantes (raramente blancas o amarillas), tubulares, de 2,5-4,5 cm de largo, partida en cuatro lóbulos cerca del ápice, donde están estambres y estilos.
Junto con Telopea, Oreocallis y Alloxylon, Embothrium hace un pequeño grupo de plantas vistosas de flores rojas terminales, desparramadas alrededor del borde sur del océano Pacífico. Conocidas como Embothriinae, es un grupo antiguo con raíces en el Cretáceo Medio, cuando Australia, Antártida y Sudamérica estana unidas por tierra.
Embothrium coccineum se planta para planta ornamental por sus vívidas flores rojas. Es exitosa en clima oceánico, desde su área nativa (Suroeste de América del Sur) desde donde fue llevada al oeste de Europa (principalmente islas Británicas e islas Feroe), costas del Pacífico Noroeste de Norteamérica, y Nueva Zelanda.
Corteza de Embothrium
Hojas de Embothrium
Flores de Embothrium
Embothrium es un género de plantas con dos a ocho especies (dependiendo de la interpretación taxonómica) en la familia de las Proteaceae, nativa del sur de Sudamérica: Chile, adyacente oeste de Argentina, sur de Perú; llegando tanto al lejano sur como Tierra del Fuego. Esta planta también se conoce como notro, ciruelillo o fosforito.
Embothrium é um género botânico pertencente à família Proteaceae[1].
Embothrium é um género botânico pertencente à família Proteaceae.
