Lithraea molleoides
{{short description|Species of plant}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Aruera.jpg
|genus = Lithraea
|species = molleoides
|synonyms_ref={{GRIN | accessdate = 16 January 2018}}
|synonyms={{collapsible list|bullets=true
|title=Synonymy
|Lithraea molleoides var. lorentziana Lillo
|Lithraea ternifolia
|Schinus brasiliensis Marchand ex Cabrera
|Schinus leucocarpus M.
|Schinus molleoides (Vell.) Engler
|Lithraea aroeirinha Marchand ex Warm.
}}
}}
Lithraea molleoides is a tree (2.5{{clarify|date=May 2025|reason=2.5 what?}} and 8 m tall) that is native to South America, specially in Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, and the Cerrado vegetation of Brazil.
Landscaping
The plant is commonly considered as unsuitable to landscaping, as it is a poisonous plant: it produces volatile substances that propagate from touching the leaves, through contact with droplets, or through the tree's pollen. These substances are allergenicCf. Paulo Backes & Bruno Irgang, Mata Atlântica: as árvores e a paisagem, Porto Alegre, Paisagem do Sul, 2004, page 100 and contact with them may produce general allergic sensitivity, skin disease, fever, and visual problems.{{cite journal |last1=Shimizu |first1=Mario Tsunezi |last2=Bueno |first2=Leandro de Jesus Franco |last3=Rodrigues |first3=Rosa Fátima Oliveira |last4=Sallowicz |first4=Fabiano Augusto |last5=Sawaya |first5=Alexandra Christine Helena Frankland |last6=Marques |first6=Márcia Ortiz Maio |title=Essential oil of Lithraea molleoides (Vell.): chemical composition and antimicrobial activity |journal=Brazilian Journal of Microbiology |volume=37 |issue=4 |date=October–December 2006|pages=556–560 |doi=10.1590/S1517-83822006000400028 |doi-access=free |hdl=11449/26633 |hdl-access=free }} Planting this tree where it can be accessible to the general public is therefore strongly discouraged.
Popular custom
In Uruguay, folk tradition states that people are supposed to salute the tree in a way according to the time of day. {{citation needed|date=February 2022}} For example, if somebody encounters the tree during the day, they are supposed to say "Good night, Mr. (or Mrs.) Aruera". Similarly, if it is during the night, they would say "Good day, Mr. Aruera".
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928104810/http://www.sib.gov.ar/fichas/flora.aspx?id=Lithraea%20molleoides&accion=tecnica Sistema de Información de Biodiversidad: Lithraea molleoides]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15545669}}