Drimys winteri
It is an evergreen tree that inhabits a large part of Chile, from the Coquimbo Region to the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego in the Magallanes Region. It is one of the sacred trees of the Mapuche people and in their language it is called “foye” or “foyke”.
Lc (From Maule Region To The South) In (From O’Higgins Region To The North).
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliales
Winteraceae
Perennial
Size 20 meters high.
Relatively fast growth rate.
Almost all year round with greater intensity during the spring between the months of October and November.
White with yellow center.
In the shade, on steep slopes with southern exposure.
Tolerates temperatures down to -20°c.
In secano areas with annual rainfall of 400-800 mm concentrated in winter, without rain for 3-5 months, or in areas with constant rainfall, with short dry periods of no more than 1 month.
It grows in wet and swampy soils, often on the banks of rivers and swamps, and tolerates acid soils.
In Mapuche culture it has a sacred character, craftsmanship.
In Chile, from the region of Coquimbo (Fray Jorge National Park) to the extreme south of Tierra del Fuego (Magallanes region), up to 1700 m.a.s.l.
It is associated with plum (embothrium coccineum), tepu (tepuaria stipularis), petra (myrceugenia exsucca), luma (amomyrtus luma) and shrubs characteristic of the rainforest.
