Keule, Queule
Gomortega keule

Family: Gomortegaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 18-30 m high. It can form suckers and have several stems. The bark is grey and has shallow cracks along it. New branches are 4 sided. The leaves are rough and dark green above and more pale underneath. They are oblong to sword shaped and 5-10 cm long by 2-4.5 cm wide. The flowers are in groups in the axils of leaves or at the ends of branches. The flowers are green. They are 5-7 mm across. The fruit are yellow and 3-4 cm across. It usually has 1 or 2 seeds.

There is only one Gomortega species and only one genus in the Gomortegaceae. It is an endangered species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Chile it grows between 500-2,000 m altitude. It grows in humid areas with constant rain. It can tolerate some shade. It suits hardiness zone 9. It can tolerate light frosts.

Countries/locations it is found in

Chile (country/location of origin), Peru, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are sweet. It is used for a marmalade.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It is difficult to cultivate.

Its other names

Local names

Hualhual, Keule, Quele

Synonyms

Adenostemum nitidum (Ruiz & Pav,) Pers.; Gomortega nitida Ruiz. & Pav.; Keulia chilensis Molina; Lucuma keule Molina;