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Metrosideros stipularis
Species of shrub From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
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]
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