Changes

3,208 bytes added ,  11:17, 29 November 2007
no edit summary
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Embothrium''
| image =EmbothriumTreeinFlower w.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Embothrium coccineum tree in flower, [[Wales]]
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Proteales]]
| familia = [[Proteaceae]]
| genus = '''''Embothrium'''''
| genus_authority = [[Johann Reinhold Forster|J.R.Forst.]] & [[Johann Georg Adam Forster|G.Forst.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}

'''''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]] and southern [[Peru]]; the genus occurs as far south as [[Tierra del Fuego]]. Common names include '''Chilean Firebush''' in English, and '''Notro''', '''Ciruelillo''', '''Fosforito''' in Chilean Spanish.

They are large [[shrub]]s or [[tree]]s growing to 10-20 m tall with a trunk up to 70 cm diameter. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]], occasionally [[deciduous]] in cold areas, 5-12 cm long and 2-4 cm broad. The [[flower]]s 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.

;Species
*''Embothrium coccineum'' J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. Chile, Argentina.
*''Embothrium grandiflorum'' Lam. Peru, at high altitudes in the [[Andes]].
*''Embothrium lanceolatum'' Ruiz & Pav. (syn. ''E. coccineum'' var. ''lanceolatum'' (Ruiz & Pav.) O.Kuntze). Chile, Argentina; doubtfully distinct from ''E. coccineum''.

===Classification===
Together with ''[[Waratah|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.

===Cultivation and uses===
''Embothrium coccineum'' is grown as an [[ornamental plant]] for its vivid red flowers. It is only successful in [[oceanic climate]]s, 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]].

==External links==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/splist.pl?4215 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Embothrium'']
*[http://www.chilebosque.cl/tree/ecocc.html Chilebosque: ''Embothrium coccineum'']

<gallery>
Image:EmbothriumBark.jpg|Embothrium Bark
Image:EmbothriumLeaves.jpg|Embothrium leaves
Image:Fuchsia_Magellanica_-_Navarin_Island_-_Beagle_Channel.jpg|''Embothrium coccineum'', taken nearby [http://www.lakutaia.cl Lakutaia Hotel] at Navarino Island, by the [[Beagle Channel]]
Image:EmbothriumFlowers w.jpg|Embothrium flowers
</gallery>

{{Commons|Embothrium coccineum}}

[[Category:Proteaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Argentina]]
[[Category:Flora of Chile]]
[[Category:Flora of Peru]]


{{tree-stub}}
{{proteaceae-stub}}
7,617

edits