Metrosideros stipularis
Species of shrub
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Metrosideros stipularis is a species of the myrtle family commonly known as tepú, trepú, or tepual. It is an evergreen tree or shrub that attains heights of about four to five metres.[2] The plant is native to southern South America in the southern portions of Chile and Argentina and is a typical resident of very wet areas, especially in swamps[3] and peat bogs and with gleyic soil horizons.[4][5] Tepú has white flowers that emerge during the austral summer from December through April, but more commonly from Frebruary to March.[6] The species is shade tolerant and grows merkedly slowly, less than 1 mm per year.[4] Mature tepú forest or tepuales have high basal areas when compared with other types of humid forests.[7] Tepú trees tend to grow horizontally and Tepú forest tend have high biomass contents.[3]
| Tepú | |
|---|---|
| |
| Tepú in flower | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Metrosideros |
| Species: | M. stipularis |
| Binomial name | |
| Metrosideros stipularis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
In some localities it grows together with Fitzroya cupressoides or with Pilgerodendron uviferum.[3] The tepu is most abundant in the Chilean provinces of Chiloé, Llanquihue and Palena.[3]
The tree's wood is hard and used within its range as a firewood due to it high energy content.[4][8] It is commonly recommended to use its firewood mixed with wood from other species given its excessive heat content that is said to be able to break kitchen stoves.[4]
This species has often been placed in its own genus Tepualia, but recent works include it in Metrosideros.[9][10]
