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Peumus
boldus Molina
Standardized Common
Name: Boldo
Family: Monimiaceae
Taxonomy: P. boldus is
endemic to Chile and is the only species in its genus.
Description: Tree to 20 m high,
with trunk to 1 m in diameter at the base; crown rounded, many-branched, leafy;
bark brownish gray, almost smooth to slightly ridged and cracked on the trunk;
twigs pubescent. Leaves opposite; petiole 3–5 mm long, pubescent with short soft
matted hairs or subglabrous; blade broadly elliptical to ovate, (2–)3–6(–8) cm
long, (1–)1.5–3.5(–4.5) cm broad, leathery; base rounded; apex broadly
rounded-obtuse; margins entire, revolute; upper surface dark green, with deeply
sunken nerves, numerous glandular hairs; lower surface lighter in color, with
prominent nerves, bearing stellate hairs. Dioecious. Inflorescence a raceme,
axillary or terminal, several-flowered. Perianth 5–7 mm in diameter, of 10–12
tepals in 2–3 whorls, the outer membranous and pubescent, the inner petaloid
and yellowish-white; stamens numerous, in several whorls; carpels separate,
2–7. Fruit a drupe, usually 2–5 developing per flower, 1-seeded.
Parts
in Commerce:
Leaves
Identification:
- Broadly
elliptical to ovate-elliptical, (2–)3–6(–8) cm long
- Petiole short,
more or less pubescent
- Base rounded
- Apex broadly
obtuse, somewhat rounded
- Texture
leathery, rough
- Margins usually
somewhat revolute, often slightly undulate
- Venation
pinnate, with several pairs of secondary veins splitting and anastomosing
short of margin
- Midrib and
secondary veins sunken in upper surface, conspicuous beneath
- Upper surface
dark green (may become reddish brown upon drying) with pale warty glands
bearing tiny hairs
- Lower surface
paler, at least somewhat pubescent with stellate hairs
- Odor aromatic
- Taste aromatic,
pungent
Adulterants: Wichtl reports Cryptocarya peumus Nees as an adulterant that can
be detected by its lack of warty protrusions or stellate hairs. Its leaf
margins are distinctly undulate but very little revolute.
References:
Morawetz W. Karyologie und ökologisch-morphologische
Differenzierung von Peumus boldus (Monimiaceae, Laurales). Pl
Syst Evol. 1981;138:157–173.
Rodríguez R. R, Matthei S. O, Quezada M. M. Flora
Arbórea de Chile. Conception, Chile: Editorial de la Universidad de
Conception; 1983.
Wichtl M, ed. Herbal Drugs and
Phytopharmaceuticals, 3rd English
ed. Stuttgart: medpharm Scientific Publishers and Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press;
2004:91–93.
Figure 52: a–c, Peumus boldus leaf and close-ups of
upper and lower surfaces.
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