Hesperomeles ferruginea

Hesperomeles ferruginea is an evergreen shrub or tree in the family Rosaceae, native to montane forests on the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia.[1][2]

Hesperomeles ferruginea
Branchlet with leaves and fruits
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rosaceae
Genus:	Hesperomeles
Species:	H. ferruginea
Binomial name
Hesperomeles ferruginea (Pers.)Benth.

Description

Shrub or tree up to 12 m high and 50 cm dbh; with gray bark; branchlets rusty colored.[2][1][3] Leaves are ovate or elliptic, with serrate margins, 5 – 7 cm long, covered with rusty colored hairs on the underside.[2][1][3] The white flowers are arranged in a cymose inflorescence up to 10 cm long; the petals are white and pilose, ca. 1 cm long; the bittersweet red fruits resemble little apples, up to 2 cm wide.[2][1][3]

Distribution and habitat

Hesperomeles ferruginea is found in the Andes, from Venezuela to Bolivia, between 1900 and 4000 m of elevation.[1] It is found in montane forests and paramo grasslands.[1]

Uses

Hesperomeles ferruginea yields good quality wood, suitable for indoors carpentry.[1] It has white color, straight grain and medium texture.[1]

References

1. Reynel, Carlos; Marcelo, Jose Luis (2009). Árboles de los Ecosistemas Forestales Andinos (in Spanish). Lima: ECOBONA. pp. 64–69.
2. Plantas de los páramos del Distrito Metropolitano de Quito, Ecuador (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad. 2015. p. 100. ISBN 978-9942-9988-4-2.
3. Francis, Macbride, J. (1938). "Flora of Peru /". v.13:pt.2:no.3 (1938): 1067–1068. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Further reading

• Reynel, C.; Marcelo, J.L. (2009). "Árboles de los Ecosistemas Forestales Andinos" (PDF). ECOBONA.