About Hesperomeles ferruginea (Juss. ex Pers.) Benth.
Hesperomeles ferruginea (Juss. ex Pers.) Benth. is a shrub or tree that grows up to 12 meters tall and 50 cm in diameter at breast height. It has gray bark and rust-colored branchlets. Its leaves are ovate or elliptic, with serrated margins, 5 to 7 cm long, and covered in rust-colored hairs on their underside. White flowers of this species grow in cymose inflorescences that reach up to 10 cm long; its petals are white, covered in soft hairs, and approximately 1 cm long. The bittersweet red fruits resemble small apples and grow up to 2 cm wide. This species occurs in the Andes, ranging from Venezuela to Bolivia, at elevations between 1900 and 4000 meters. It grows in montane forests and paramo grasslands. It produces good quality wood that is suited for indoor carpentry. The wood is white, has a straight grain, and medium texture.
