Lenga Forest

The Lenga Forest is located above 1,000m in altitude, in the slopes of the volcano Mocho-Choshuenco and in the path of the Enchanted Mountains. The forest is deciduous, with the lenga as the only dominant tree. It forms luminous forests, that in autumn offer a spectacle when the leaves turn red before falling. Below the treetops, one can observe evergreen shrubs like Berberis serrato-dentata , el canelo andino (Drimys andina), Maytenus disticha and Myrceugenia chrysocarpa. Found almost exclusively in lenga forests, the herbaceous plants Anemone antucensis, Leucheria thermarum and Perezia prenanthoides have striking flowers.

Avellano (Gevuina avellana)

Family
PROTEACEAE
Seed Distribution
Animals
Height
18 m
Foliage Type
Evergreen
Author Names
Molina

Species is used as ornament. The toasted fruits are consumed by humans. Apreciated by beekeepers. Its oil is a great healer and natural sunscreen. Its leaves are used to treat wounds.

Gevuina is the latinization of the indigenous name of the species; avellana makes reference to the fruits of Corylus avellana, the hazelnut of Europe.

Common Names
Avellano, guevín, nefuén (Common Hazelnut)
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Compound leaves, imparipinnate, serrated; petioles, stems and leaf are reddish when young

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This species has light grey bark.

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Flowers in yellowish-white clusters. Flowering from October to April.

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Fruit, an edible nut, changes from red to brown during the maturation.

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In Chile it grows between the regions of Maule and Los Lagos (The Lakes). Found on trails that border the Truful and Fuy rivers, and the pampa las bandurrias.

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This species has light grey bark.

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Flowers in yellowish-white clusters. Flowering from October to April.

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Fruit, an edible nut, changes from red to brown during the maturation.

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Compound leaves, imparipinnate, serrated; petioles, stems and leaf are reddish when young

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In Chile it grows between the regions of Maule and Los Lagos (The Lakes). Found on trails that border the Truful and Fuy rivers, and the pampa las bandurrias.

Coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi)

Family
FAGACEAE
Seed Distribution
Wind
Height
40 m
Foliage Type
Evergreen
Author Names
(Mirb.) Oerst

It is the most abundant tree species in the reserve, and is one of the largest in size. It is used as a decorative tree.

Nothofagus, false beech or beech of the south; dombeyi, it is dedicated to J. Dombey, a french doctor who accompanied H. Ruiz and J. Pavón in their expedition to the viceroyalty of Lima; their visit to Chile in 1782 represents the botanical discovery of the country by the Spanish Crown.

Common Names
Coigüe
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Leathery, gland-spotted leaves, which have a tapered oval shape, and small veins on the face.

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Grey bark, with shallow cracks along its length.

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Masculine and feminine flowers in groups of three.

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The dome opens in 4 covered leaflets with overlapping dentiform appendages. Nuts are 2 - 3 mm in length.

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It grows in Chile and Argentina, between the O’Higgins and Aysén regions.

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Grey bark, with shallow cracks along its length.

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Masculine and feminine flowers in groups of three.

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The dome opens in 4 covered leaflets with overlapping dentiform appendages. Nuts are 2 - 3 mm in length.

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Leathery, gland-spotted leaves, which have a tapered oval shape, and small veins on the face.

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It grows in Chile and Argentina, between the O’Higgins and Aysén regions.

Fuinque (Lomatia ferruginea)

Family
PROTEACEAE
Forest Type
Seed Distribution
Wind
Height
6 m
Foliage Type
Evergreen
Author Names
(Cav.) R. Br.

It is frequently used as a little ornamental tree, for its fern frond-like leaves. A decoction of its leaves and bark is used in cases of colico.

Lomatia comes from greek loma, a ledge or rim; It references the winged rim of the seeds; ferruginea, comes from latin, and means red, making reference to the color of the buds and new leaves.

Common Names
Fuinque, helecho, árbol, palmilla
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Compound leaves. The new leaves are covered by short reddish hairs.

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Flower crowns similar to clusters, pink tepals on the upper face with a yellow apical portion. Flowering from October to December.

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Fruit, follicle of 3.5-4cm in length; winged seeds.

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In Chile and Argentina between the Regions of Maule and Magallanes. Found in wet areas that border the river Truful.

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Flower crowns similar to clusters, pink tepals on the upper face with a yellow apical portion. Flowering from October to December.

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Fruit, follicle of 3.5-4cm in length; winged seeds.

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Compound leaves. The new leaves are covered by short reddish hairs.

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In Chile and Argentina between the Regions of Maule and Magallanes. Found in wet areas that border the river Truful.

Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio)

Family
FAGACEAE
Forest Type
Seed Distribution
Wind
Height
30 m
Foliage Type
Deciduous
Author Names
(Poepp. & Endl.) Krasser

The species is used decoratively in places with cold climates.

Nothofagus is derived from greek and means false beech or beech of the south; pumilio is from the latin pumilus, which means small; this possibly because, in comparison to coigües and robles, it is a smaller species.

Common Names
Lenga, ñgëfu
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Elliptical leaves, double-edged border; the veins alternate reaching the border.

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Dark grey bark with cracks along its length.

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Masculine flowers are solitary and have stalks; feminine flowers are solitary and do not have stalks.

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The dome opens in two leaflets with a single nut.

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It is distributed in Chile between the Maule and Magallanes Regions. It grows around Volcano Mocho-Choshuenco and the Puerto Pirehueico road, around 1000 m in altitude, they form the upper limit of the vegetation.

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Dark grey bark with cracks along its length.

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Masculine flowers are solitary and have stalks; feminine flowers are solitary and do not have stalks.

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The dome opens in two leaflets with a single nut.

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Elliptical leaves, double-edged border; the veins alternate reaching the border.

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It is distributed in Chile between the Maule and Magallanes Regions. It grows around Volcano Mocho-Choshuenco and the Puerto Pirehueico road, around 1000 m in altitude, they form the upper limit of the vegetation.

Notro (Embothrium coccineum)

Family
PROTEACEAE
Seed Distribution
Wind
Height
15 m
Foliage Type
Evergreen
Author Names
J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.

Evergreen tree or deciduous bush at high altitude. Species used as ornament for its flowering, that resembles fire. It grows quickly. The bark is used in popular medicine to alleviate dental pains.

Embothrium, alludes to the anthers of the stamens being inserted in a small slit of the tepals; coccineum references the red color of the tepals.

Common Names
Notro, ciruelillo
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Leaves are Alternate, Simple, Lanceolate, with full edges.

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Smooth gray bark with light and dark spots.

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Flowers are inflorescent red, with tops that resemble a corymb. Flowering from September to January.

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Fruit is a follicle with winged seeds.

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It is found in Chile between the Maule and Magallanes regions.

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Smooth gray bark with light and dark spots.

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Flowers are inflorescent red, with tops that resemble a corymb. Flowering from September to January.

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Fruit is a follicle with winged seeds.

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Leaves are Alternate, Simple, Lanceolate, with full edges.

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It is found in Chile between the Maule and Magallanes regions.