About Amomyrtus meli (Phil.) D.Legrand & Kausel
Amomyrtus meli (Phil.) D.Legrand & Kausel is an evergreen tree that reaches up to 20 meters (65 feet) in height, and up to 60 centimeters (23 inches) in trunk diameter. It has smooth, reddish-whitish bark that sheds annually. Its leaves grow in opposite arrangements, and can be oval, lanceolate, or elliptical in shape. Each leaf has an acute apex that ends in a small sharp point called a mucro, up to 1 millimeter long. Mature leaves measure 2 to 5 centimeters long and 0.7 to 2.5 centimeters wide, and are attached to stems by petioles 2 to 4 millimeters in length. This species can be distinguished from the closely similar Amomyrtus luma by its completely hairless new shoots. Its flowers are hermaphroditic, with 5 fused sepals and 5 separate white petals 3 to 4 millimeters long. The flowers have 40 to 80 stamens, each 5 to 7 millimeters in length. The fruit is a purplish-black to black berry 5 to 8 millimeters in diameter, that usually contains 3 seeds measuring 3 to 4.5 millimeters across. The extremely hard, durable wood of Amomyrtus meli is used to make tool handles. It is also planted as an ornamental tree, because it produces abundant, strongly fragrant blooms. Its flowers are a valuable resource for honey production.
