Tree to 20 m or so tall. Young shoots densely hairy. Leaves oblong, to 5 cm or so long, blunt-tipped. Flowers to about 1 cm wide; summer. Petals narrow. Fruit follicles with a felty covering at first.

Chile.

The bark of this tree contains saponins used by the S American Indians to produce a lather and hence used as a soap, but also for medicinal purposes. The saponin is now used in fire extinguishers.

ACT: Yarralumla (Westbourne Woods).VIC: Geelong (Bot. Gds, old tree, largest in the state); Melbourne (Royal Bot. Gds, near Herb Garden).

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Rosaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.