Amomyrtus meli, known as meli, is a species of tree in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to Chile and grows from Arauco to Chiloe (37 to 42ðS). It grows mostly on moist and shaded sites.
It is an evergreen tree that measures up to 20 m (65 ft) tall and up to 60 cm (23 in) in diameter, with smooth, decorticant bark of reddish-whitish color. The leaves are opposite, oval, lanceolate or elliptical with acute which ends in a mucro up to 1 mm long. The leaves are 2âÂÂ5 long and 0.7âÂÂ2.5 cm wide, the petioles are 2âÂÂ4 mm long. Newly shoots are glabrous what make it different from Amomyrtus luma, species to which it resembles very much. The flowers are hermaphrodite, 5 fused sepals and 5 free white petals about 3âÂÂ4 mm long. The stamens are numerous 40âÂÂ80 and 5âÂÂ7 mm long. The fruit is a black purplish-black berry, 5âÂÂ8 mm in diameter, generally with 3 seeds about 3âÂÂ4.5 mm.
The name Amomyrtus from the Greek Amos, very fragrant; Myrtus is the family's name and Meli is the indigenous mapuche name of the tree.
Amomyrtus meli was first described by Rodolfo Amando Philippi in 1856, and in 1947 by D.Legrand & Kausel.
The wood is extremely hard and resistant and that is why it is used for elaborating tool handles; it is also planted as an ornamental tree because it blooms abundantly and is very fragrant. Its flowers are important for honey production.