Temu cruckshanksii
Temu cruckshanksii (Mapudungun: temu) is a species of plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to Chile. It is threatened by habitat loss. The purported variety "Heaven Scent" sold commercially is likely just the unimproved plant. Taxonomy
The species was described as Temu cruckshanksii by Otto Karl Berg in 1861, but was later placed in the genus Blepharocalyx. It was returned to Temu after a phylogenetic analyses of tribe Mytreae found Blepharocalyx to be polyphyletic. Description
The plant grows to be 15 meters with a trunk diameter of approximately 50 centimeters. The bark is smooth and reddish brown. Leaves are oval-shaped, while the flowers are white and arranged in inflorescences. Fruits are round, dark brown with hints of reddish tone, and taste bitter. The toponym Temuco (city in Chile) comes from this tree, meaning in mapuzungun "Temu water" or "temu in the water" ("co" means water in Mapuche). Range and habitat
Temu cruckshanksii is native to central Chile, ranging from Aconcagua in Valparaíso Region in the north to Llanquihue in Los Lagos Region in the south. It grows in temperate forests, and in relict coastal forests in the mediterranean-climate north. It grows in humid and shady places or on the banks of watercourses in both the Chilean Coast Range and the foothills of the Andes from 400 to 1,000 meters elevation. It does not tolerate regular snow, but can withstand occasional short-duration frosts to approximately -5 °C. References

Endemic flora of Chile
Flora of the Valdivian temperate forests
Myrtaceae
Monotypic Myrtaceae genera
Near threatened plants
Plants described in 1833
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot