Flora canaria > Especies silvestres
Schinus molle
Schinus molle L.
Familia
ANACARDIACEAE
Pimentero, Pimentero falso
Schinus molle, commonly known as false pepper tree, aguaribay, pirul or molle, is a fast-growing, weeping evergreen tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. It is native to the temperate and arid regions of the Andes mountain range in South America, although it is now widely naturalised in warm areas around the world due to its ornamental use and extreme hardiness.
It usually reaches a height of between 6 and 10 metres (though it can reach 25 metres in its optimal habitat). It develops a broad, dense, spherical crown with slender, flexible, pendulous branches.
The leaves are compound, imparipinnate and evergreen. When rubbed, they give off an intense, characteristic aromatic scent of resin and pepper.
It produces small, yellowish-white flowers. Its fruits grow in striking, pendulous clusters; they are globose drupes, 4 to 8 mm in diameter, which turn a bright pink or purple colour as they ripen.
It is an extremely hardy tree. It is notable for its high resistance to drought and high temperatures, making it ideal for xeriscaping and arid landscapes. It requires full sun and well-drained soil, tolerating nutrient-poor conditions, although it is sensitive to severe and prolonged frosts when young.
Its dried and ground fruits are used as the popular ‘pink pepper’, imparting a slightly spicy and aromatic flavour, although it has no botanical relationship with true black pepper.
In traditional Andean medicine, its leaves, bark and resin are used for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Infusions are commonly used to relieve respiratory ailments and rheumatic pain.
The leaves contain essential oils rich in compounds such as alpha-pinene. Rubbing the leaves directly onto the skin acts as a natural mosquito repellent.
La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote
Pimentero, Pimentero falso
Schinus molle, commonly known as false pepper tree, aguaribay, pirul or molle, is a fast-growing, weeping evergreen tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. It is native to the temperate and arid regions of the Andes mountain range in South America, although it is now widely naturalised in warm areas around the world due to its ornamental use and extreme hardiness.
It usually reaches a height of between 6 and 10 metres (though it can reach 25 metres in its optimal habitat). It develops a broad, dense, spherical crown with slender, flexible, pendulous branches.
The leaves are compound, imparipinnate and evergreen. When rubbed, they give off an intense, characteristic aromatic scent of resin and pepper.
It produces small, yellowish-white flowers. Its fruits grow in striking, pendulous clusters; they are globose drupes, 4 to 8 mm in diameter, which turn a bright pink or purple colour as they ripen.
It is an extremely hardy tree. It is notable for its high resistance to drought and high temperatures, making it ideal for xeriscaping and arid landscapes. It requires full sun and well-drained soil, tolerating nutrient-poor conditions, although it is sensitive to severe and prolonged frosts when young.
Its dried and ground fruits are used as the popular ‘pink pepper’, imparting a slightly spicy and aromatic flavour, although it has no botanical relationship with true black pepper.
In traditional Andean medicine, its leaves, bark and resin are used for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Infusions are commonly used to relieve respiratory ailments and rheumatic pain.
The leaves contain essential oils rich in compounds such as alpha-pinene. Rubbing the leaves directly onto the skin acts as a natural mosquito repellent.
La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote
