SafePlants

No images found for this plant ID: 33099.

Ensure images are uploaded to the Media Library and tagged with "33099" in the "plant_image_tag" taxonomy.

Safe for Children?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Dogs?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Cats?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

Safe for Reptiles?

✅ Safe: 0
❓ Neutral: 0
❌ Unsafe: 0

peumus

Scientific Name: Peumus

Family: Monimiaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Boldo (Peumus boldus)

Peumus boldus, commonly known as Boldo, is the sole species within the genus Peumus.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant's leaves have hairs and glands that are perceptible to the touch.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant's leaves have hairs and glands that are perceptible to the touch.

Quirky Facts

  • The name "Peumus" is believed to originate from "peumo," a term used by the Mapuche Indians of Chile.
  • There is a settlement in Arauco Province, Chile, named "Boldo" after the tree.
  • Boldo leaves have a history of cross-cultural culinary usage as a spice.
  • Boldo is used as an incense and tea for helping to reach a trance.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Peumus boldus Molina
  • Family: Monimiaceae
  • Genus: Peumus (monotypic)
  • Synonyms: Boldu boldus, Boldea fragrans, Peumus fragrans
  • Common Names: Boldo, Boldus, Boldoa, Boldina, Boldus Boldus, Boldoak Boldea, Boldo Folium

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native and endemic to the central regions of Chile.
  • Also found in the Andean regions of Peru and Ecuador.
  • Grows natively in Chile.

Ecological Role

  • Used in traditional Chilean medicine.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Evergreen tree, growing to 6 meters (approximately 19 feet 8 inches), but can reach 20 meters in its homeland of Chile.
  • Slow growth rate.
  • Hardy to zone 9 (UK).
  • In leaf from January 12th.
  • Flowers from August to September.
  • Leaves have a coarse texture, with hairs and glands perceptible to the touch.

Traditional Uses

  • Used in traditional Chilean medicine to treat hepatic and gastrointestinal diseases.
  • Dry leaves are used in infusion or decoction as a digestive aid and to improve hepatic complaints.
  • Used as an incense and tea for helping to reach a trance.
  • Various members of the Monimiaceae family are important locally for their timber and fruits and in making perfumes, medicine, and dyes.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Essential oil shows insecticidal activity against Spodoptera frugiperda and Helicoverpa zea.
  • Catechin-based Procyanidins from Peumus boldus inhibit Helicobacter pylori urease.

Further Information

  • Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service
  • National Library of Medicine's controlled vocabulary thesaurus, MeSH (Medical Subject Headings)