Luzuriaga radicans

Luzuriaga radicans is an evergreen climbing plant, whose fine roots adhere to the trunks of trees. The leaves are alternate, distal and with an entire border, oblong-lanceolate in shape, the acute tip ending abruptly. They are light green in color, and from 1–4 cm in length and 0.3–1 cm wide, with 9–13 white lines on the undersurface. The flowers are hermaphroditic, 1 cm in length and either single or forming an inflorescence with 2–4 flowers. The six white tepals are uneven in size. There are six stamens, and the style, which is longer than the stamens, ends in a tri-lobed stigma. The fruit is a smooth, globose berry, red-orange in color and 0.8–1 cm in diameter, with up to twelve flattened seeds about 4 mm in length.{{sfn|Schilling|2013}}

Luzuriaga radicans was first described by the Spanish botanists Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavón Jiménez in 1802,{{sfn|Ruiz|Pavón|1798–1802}} and consequently the botanical authority is stated as Ruiz et Pavón.{{sfn|Tropicos|2020}} It is the type-species of genus Luzuriaga, which includes four species.{{sfn|POWO|2020}}

The epithet radicans (Latin: with rooting stems), refers to the characteristic climbing roots.{{sfn|Gledhill|2006}}{{sfn|Schilling|2013}}

Luzuriaga radicans is native to South Central to South Chile and South Argentina. In Chile, it grows from Colchagua to Aisén provinces (regions VI–XI), where it prefers a shady humid environment with constant rainfall under dense vegetation cover. In coastal areas it grows up to 500 m, while in coastal mountain areas its range is 500–2000  m. It also occurs at low altitudes in interior valleys.{{sfn|Schilling|2013}}{{sfn|POWO|2020}}{{sfn|Belov|2012}}

The plant thrives in humid environments and can grow either in water or with its roots in water, including marshes, bogs, and the shores of lakes and rivers.{{sfn|Belov|2012}}

The plant, and hence its uses, has become scarce, due to overusage and the destruction of forests. However it can be found in protected areas such as the Llancahue reserve near Valdivia.{{sfn|Ancud|2007}}{{sfn|Valdivia|2017}}

Cultivation is difficult. After the vine has been removed from the tree, it takes about 5 years to regrow.{{sfn|Ancud|2007}}

The plant is valued as an ornamental, while the stems are used in the manufacture of household utensils and handicrafts, including basketry and brooms. Historically it was also used for fences and ropes, but now it is mainly used for artisanal crafts.{{sfn|Schilling|2013}}{{sfn|Ancud|2007}} The fruit is edible and eaten raw, and was a traditional food, but has fallen out of use.{{sfn|Barreau Daly|2014}}

Luzuriaga radicans appears in Chilote mythology, where a creature called Trauco clothes himself in the plant and sustains himself on its fruit.{{sfn|This is Chile|2017}}{{sfn|Rozzi|2010}}{{sfn|Ancud|2007}}

{{Reflist|20em}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

;Books and theses

• {{cite book|last1=Yeo|first1=PF|editor1-last=Cullen|editor1-first=James|editor2-last=Knees|editor2-first=Sabina G.|editor3-last=Cubey|editor3-first=H. Suzanne Cubey|title=The European Garden Flora, Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass|date=2011|orig-year=1984|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-521-76147-5|page=171|edition=2nd|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CkxWrDqtWLQC|access-date=17 February 2020|volume= 1. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae|chapter=Luzuriaga radicans}}
• {{cite book|last1=Gledhill|first1=David|title=The names of plants|date=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-521-86645-3|edition=4th|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NJ6PyhVuecwC|page=325}}
• {{cite book |last1=Ruiz |first1=Hipólito |last2=Pavón |first2=José |title=Flora Peruviana, et Chilensis, sive, Descriptiones et icones plantarum Peruvianarum, et Chilensium, secundum systema Linnaeanum digestae, cum characteribus plurium generum evulgatorum reformatis V vols. plus plates|date=1798–1802 |publisher=Typis Gabrielis de Sancha |location=Madrid|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/674780#page/91/mode/1up|volume=3|issue=1802 |page=66}}, also at [https://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/records/item/9772-redirection El Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid]
• {{cite book|last=Rozzi|first=Ricardo|title=Multi-ethnic Bird Guide of the Sub-Antarctic Forests of South America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8jyBDt4kpDEC|year=2010|publisher=Sub-Antarctic Biocultural Conservation Program, University of North Texas - Universidad de Magallanes|isbn=978-1-57441-282-6|page=50}}
• {{cite thesis |last1=Barreau Daly |first1= Antonia|title=Narrating changing foodways: wild edible plant knowledge and traditional food systems in Mapuche lands of the Andean Temperate Forests, Chile |date=2014 |publisher=University of British Columbia |url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.01356|type=MSc thesis}}

;Websites

• {{cite web |last1=Schilling |first1=Darian Stark |title=Luzuriaga radicans |url=http://www.florachilena.cl |website=Enciclopedia de la Flora Chilena |access-date=14 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504000709/http://www.florachilena.cl/Niv_tax/Angiospermas/Ordenes/Liliales/Luzuriagaceae/radicans/Luzuriaga%20radicans/Luzuriaga%20radicans.htm |archive-date=4 May 2013|date=2013}}
• {{cite web|title=Luzuriaga radicans Ruiz & Pav.|website=Tropicos|url=http://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/18401781|publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden|access-date=14 February 2020|date=2020|ref={{harvid|Tropicos|2020}}}}
• {{cite web |last=POWO|authorlink=Plants of the World Online|title= Luzuriaga radicans Ruiz & Pav.|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:279952-2|website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew| date=2020|access-date=14 February 2020 }}
• {{cite web |last=WFO|authorlink=World Flora Online|title=Luzuriaga radicans Ruiz & Pav. |url=http://worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000677123|website=World Flora Online |access-date=14 February 2020 |date=2019}}
• {{cite web |title=La quilineja y la familia Marilicán |url=http://www.museodeancud.gob.cl/644/articles-24911_archivo_01.pdf |publisher=Museo Regional de Ancud |access-date=16 February 2020 |location=Ancud |language=es |date=2007|ref={{harvid|Ancud|2007}}}}
• {{cite web |title=Chiloe: a place of myths and legends |url=https://www.thisischile.cl/chiloe-a-place-of-myths-and-legends/?lang=en |website=This is Chile |date=8 November 2017|access-date=14 February 2020 |ref={{harvid|This is Chile|2017}}}}
• {{cite web |last1=Belov |first1=Michail |title=Luzuriaga radicans (Quilineja, Coral, Azahar) |url=http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/FloraEnglish/HighResPages/EH0103.htm |website=Chile flora |access-date=17 February 2020 |date=2012}}
• {{cite web |title=Peri-urban Reserve Llancahue |url=http://chilecontacto.cl/losrios/index.php/en/city/valdivia-en/urban-park/peri-urban-reserve-llancahue |website=ChileContacto |publisher=Valdivia Turismo |access-date=17 February 2020 |date=26 July 2017|ref={{harvid|Valdivia|2017}}}}

{{refend}}

{{wikispecies}}{{commonscat}}

{{taxonbar|from= Q5985069}}

Category:Alstroemeriaceae

Category:Endemic flora of Chile

Category:Taxa named by José Antonio Pavón Jiménez

Category:Taxa named by Hipólito Ruiz López