Selected vegetation types in the vicinity of Loja, Ecuador, Victor Miguel Ponce, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, Fernando Oñate-Valdivieso, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Ecuador




Selected vegetation types in the vicinity of Loja, Ecuador


Victor M. Ponce  
  San Diego State University, California, USA

Fernando Oñate-Valdivieso  
   Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Ecuador


16 October 2014



ABSTRACT

Selected tree species, either native to Ecuador or significantly present in the vicinity of Loja, are described and characterized. Fifteen tree species are featured, encompassing a variety of ecological settings, from dry forests to humid forests. The portrayal is to be used as a basis for ongoing ecohydroclimatological research.



INTRODUCTION

Fifteen (15) tree species, native to Ecuador or with significant presence in the province of Loja, are described and characterized. The selection is to be used as a basis for species identification in ecohydroclimatological research. The selected species are shown in Table A.

Table A.   Selected vegetative species suited to ecohydroclimatological research.
No. Family Species Link
1 Araliaceae Oreonapax rosei Harms Table 1
2 Oleaceae Chionantus pubescens Kunth Table 2
3 Sapindaceae Sapindus saponaria L. Table 3
4 Sapindaceae Allophylus mollis (Kunth) Radlk Table 4
5 Bignoniaceae Tecoma stans L. Juss ex Kunth Table 5
6 Rubiaceae Cinchona pubescens Vahl Table 6
7 Adoxaceae Sambucus peruviana Kunth Table 7
8 Rosaceae Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl Table 8
9 Passifloraceae Passiflora ligularis A. Juss Table 9
10 Bignoniaceae Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicholson Table 10
11 Mimosaceae Acacia macracantha Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd Table 11
12 Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sprucei Parl Table 12
13 Fabaceae Tipuana tipu (Benth.) O. Kuntze Table 13
14 Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpinia spinosa (Benth.) O. Kuntze Table 14
15 Bignoniaceae Delostoma integrifolium D. Don Table 15


Table 1.   Oreopanax rosei Harms.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Araliaceae Oreonapax O. rosei Oreopanax rosei Harms Pumamaqui,
Puma's hand
Description Conservation status Images
  • This tree/shrub species is endemic to Ecuador. It is found within the provinces of Cañar, Loja, and El Oro.

  • This species is an important component of the andean and high-andean forests. Its natural habitats are subtropical/tropical moist montane forests and subtropical/tropical high-altitude shrubland.

  • The species is threatened by habitat loss.
Vulnerable (VU) Araliaceae, <i>Oreopanax rosei</I> Harms, Pumamaqui.
Wikimedia Commons
<i>Oreopanax rosei</i> Harms.

Fig. 1 (a)   Oreopanax rosei  Harms.

<i>Oreopanax rosei</i> Harms.

Fig. 1 (b)   Oreopanax rosei  Harms.

<i>Oreopanax rosei</i> Harms.

Fig. 1 (c)  Oreopanax rosei Harms.

<i>Oreopanax rosei</i> Harms.

Fig. 1 (d)  Oreopanax rosei Harms.


Table 2.   Chionanthus pubescens Kunth.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Oleaceae Chionantus C. pubescens Chionantus pubescens Kunth Arupo, fringe trees
Description Conservation status Images
  • The genus Chionantus has a wide distribution in the tropics/subtropics.

  • The tree is native to Ecuador and Peru.

  • Itis a deciduous species occurring only in remnants of semideciduous forest, often on hillsides.

  • They are shrubs and small to medium-sized trees growing 3-25 m tall. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental tree.

  • The leaves are opposite, simple. The flowers are produced in feathery panicles, with a corolla subdivided into four slender lobes; they are white, pale yellow, or tinged pink.

Least Concern (LC)
Oleaceae, <i>Chionanthus pubescens</i> Kunth, Arupo.
Wikimedia Commons

Oleaceae, <i>Chionanthus pubescens</i> Kunth.

Fig. 2 (a)   Chionanthus pubescens Kunth.

Oleaceae, <i>Chionanthus pubescens</i> Kunth.

Fig. 2 (b)  Chionanthus pubescens Kunth.

Oleaceae, <i>Chionanthus pubescens</i> Kunth.

Fig. 2 (c)  Chionanthus pubescens Kunth.


Table 3.   Sapindus saponaria L.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Sapindaceae Sapindus S. saponaria Sapindus saponaria L. Checo, Chereco, Jarupe, jaboncillo, soapberry
Description Conservation status Images
  • Small to medium-size deciduous tree native to the Americas.

  • It grows in clumps or thickets reaching about 6 m; solitary trees can reach 15 m height.

  • The leaves of the soapberry are alternate, pinnately compound, thick and leathery but deciduous, 8 in. (20 cm) to 15 in. (38 cm) in length, made up of 6 to 20 narrow lanceolate leaflets with smooth margins, long tapered tips, and uneven wedge-shaped bases which are 2 in. to 5 in. (5 cm to 13 cm) long and 0.75 in. to 1.5 in. (2 cm to cm) wide.

  • The inflorescence are dense terminal panicles of small white flowers 6 in. to 10 in (15 cm to 20 cm) long.

  • The twigs of var. drummondii are gray-brown and hairy with short tan colored hairs while those of var. saponaria are gray and hairless. Buds on var. drummondii are small dark brown and hairy while those on var. saponaria are small brown and hairless.

Not Evaluated (NE)
Sapindaceae, <I>Sapindus saponaria</i> L., Checo, Chereco, Jarupe
Wikimedia Commons

<I>Sapindus saponaria</i> L.

Fig. 3 (a)  Sapindus saponaria L.

<I>Sapindus saponaria</i> L.

Fig. 3 (b)  Sapindus saponaria L.

<I>Sapindus saponaria</i> L.

Fig. 3 (c)  Sapindus saponaria L.


Table 4.   Allophylus mollis (Kunth) Radlk.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Sapindaceae Allophylus A. mollis Allophylus mollis (Kunth) Radlk Shiringo, Clambo
Description Conservation status Images
  • Its range is Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

  • It is a species frequently found in secondary forests of all ages, on forest fringes and canyons between 2,500 and 3,100 m elevation.

  • The tree is medium to tall, up to 30 m. The leaves ar alternate leaves with three elliptic, toothed leaflets of 9-17 × 5.0-7.5 cm, hairy below.

  • White-greenish small flowers in inflorescence.

  • White spherical fruits of up to 1 cm diameter.

Not Evaluated (NE)
Sapindaceae, <I>Sapindus saponaria</i> L., Checo, Chereco, Jarupe
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Allophylus mollis </i>(Kunth) Radlk.

Fig. 4 (a)  Allophylus mollis (Kunth) Radlk.

<i>Allophylus mollis</i> (Kunth) Radlk

Fig. 4 (b)  Allophylus mollis (Kunth) Radlk.

<i>Allophylus mollis</i> (Kunth) Radlk

Fig. 4 (c)  Allophylus mollis (Kunth) Radlk.


Table 5.   Tecoma stans (L) Juss. ex Kunth.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Bignoniaceae Tecoma T. stans Tecoma stans L. Juss ex Kunth Cholan, Fresno, Lame Negro, guarán amarillo, yellow trumpetbush, yellow elder
Description Conservation status Images
  • Its range is in the neotropical Americas. It is drought-tolerant and grows well in warm climates and full sun. It prefers dry and disturbed areas such as roadsides but it can also be found in relatively undisturbed forests. It is a ruderal species, readily colonizing disturbed, rocky, sandy, and cleared land and occasionally becoming an invasive weed.

  • It is an attractive shrub or small tree that is cultivated as an ornamental. It has sharply-toothed, lance-shaped green leaves and bears large, showy, bright golden yellow trumpet-shaped flowers.

  • The leaves and roots of the plant contain bioactive compounds, especially monoterpenes, which may have medicinal uses; honey bees are attracted to it, but-unlike most flowering plants-the honey produced from Yellow Trumpetbush's nectar/pollen is poisonous.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Tecoma stans (L) Juss. ex Kunth</i>
Wikimedia Commons

<i><i>Tecoma stans (L) Juss. ex Kunth</i>

Fig. 5 (a)  Tecoma stans (L) Juss. ex Kunth.

<i>Tecoma stans (L) Juss. ex Kunth</i>

Fig. 5 (b)  Tecoma stans (L) Juss. ex Kunth.

<i>Tecoma stans (L) Juss. ex Kunth</i>

Fig. 5 (c)  Tecoma stans (L) Juss. ex Kunth.


Table 6.   Cinchona pubescens Vahl.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Rubiaceae Cinchona C. pubescens Cinchona pubescens Vahl Cascarilla roja
Description Conservation status Images
  • This species is native to Central and South America, its natural habitat being the cloud forests. It grows to 10 m tall.

  • In Ecuador it is distributed within an altitude of 300 to 3,900 m, and has the widest distribution of all Cinchona species. It occurs in agricultural areas, coastland, natural forests, planted forests, range/grasslands, ruderal/disturbed, and scrub/shrublands.

  • In its native range in Ecuador, C. pubescens grows in volcanic soil rich in organic matter but also in very rocky areas, where the roots are exposed to the air. It grows best in disturbed habitats, especially in areas where vegetation was burnt.

  • It exhibits an association with arbuscular mycorrhizae and it grows well in acid volcanic soils.

  • Its rapid spread, fast growth and growth habit results in fast invasion and replacement of native vegetation in naturally treeless environments. Shrub and herb layers experience dramatic loss of species diversity, with very few species able to grow below canopy.

  • The leaves are shaped from broadly elliptic or oval to broadly oblong, are rather thin, conspicuously veined, somewhat pubescent beneath and turn red with age while persisting on the tree. Flowers are large in panicles, pink, and fragrant; capsules ovoid fusiform, 2-3 cm long, and walls are firm.

  • C. pubescens is known as a medicinal plant for its bark's high quinine content, and has similar uses to C. officinalis in the production of quinine, used for the treatment of malaria.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Cinchona pubescens</i> Vahl.
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Cinchona pubescens</i> Vahl.
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Cinchona pubescens</i> Vahl.

Fig. 6 (a)  Cinchona pubescens Vahl.

<i>Cinchona pubescens</i> Vahl.

Fig. 6 (b)  Cinchona pubescens Vahl.

<i>Cinchona pubescens</i> Vahl.

Fig. 6 (c)  Cinchona pubescens Vahl.


Table 7.  Sambucus peruviana Kunth.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Adoxaceae (ex Caprifoliaceae) Sambucus S. peruviana Sambucus peruviana Kunth Elderberry, uva de la sierra, sauco, rayan
Description Conservation status Images
  • Sambucus peruviana, commonly called sauco or rayan, is a medium-sized, spreading tree or shrub that is distributed in the Andean mountain ranges from Costa Rica and Panama to Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru.

  • The leaves are pinnate with 5-9 leaflets (rarely 3 or 11). Each leaf is 5-30 cm long, and the leaflets have serrated margins. They bear large clusters of small white or cream-colored flowers in late spring; these are followed by clusters of small black, blue-black, or red berries.

  • The elderberry can be deciduous shrubs, small trees, or herbaceous perennial plants. Two of the varieties of elderberry are herbaceous, which means that when they die off, they return to the ground so that there is no visible stump or remains left.

  • Sambucus peruviana is one of the few elderberries that can be eaten out of hand, and its primary use is as a fruit for human consumption. Like common elderberries, the fruits can also be made into syrups and wines, and the flowers can be made into fritters.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Sambucus peruviana</i> Kunth.
Wikimedia Commons
  • The elderberry has been used as an ingredient in wines, marmalades, drinks, and desserts, but it has also been widely used for its medicinal purposes. Juice from the berries was used to relieve colds, influenza, bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems. The flower of the elderberry plant would also be made into creams, washes, or poultices, and used for skin irritants and aliments including, scrapes burns, abrasions, and cuts.

  • Of all the herbs, elderberries are ranked third highest in vitamin C content. In addition, they also contain large amounts of vitamins A and B, carotenoids, and amino acids. The skin of the elderberry fruit has the highest concentration of athocyonins of any other fruit.

  • The elderberry is used in traditional medicine as a diaphoretic, and for sore throats.

<i>Sambucus peruviana</i> Kunth.

Fig. 7 (a)  Sambucus peruviana Kunth.

<i>Sambucus peruviana</i> Kunth.

Fig. 7 (b)  Sambucus peruviana Kunth.

<i>Sambucus peruviana</i> Kunth.

Fig. 7 (c)  Sambucus peruviana Kunth.


Table 8.  Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Rosaceae Eriobotrya japonica E. Japonica Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. Níspero del Japón, loquat
Description Conservation status Images
  • Eriobotrya japonica is a species of flowering plant native to south-central China.

  • It is a large broad-leaf evergreen shrub or small tree, with a rounded crown, short trunk, and wholly new twigs. The tree can grow to 5-10 m, but it is often smaller, 3-4 m.

  • It also often grows as a large spreading shrub. It is generally noted for its compact size, attractive foliage, fragrant flowers and edible fruit.

  • The leaves are alternate, simple, 10-25 cm long, dark green, tough and leathery in texture, with a serrated margin, and densely velvety-hairy below with thick yellow-brown pubescence; the young leaves are also densely pubescent above, but this soon rubs off.

  • The wrinkled, strongly-veined, leathery, elliptic-lanceolate leaves (to 12" long) with toothed margins are dark green above and light green covered with rusty down beneath. Sweetly fragrant, five-petaled, white flowers in large panicles (to 6" long) bloom in late fall-early winter.

  • Loquats are unusual among fruit trees in that the flowers appear in the autumn or early winter, and the fruits are ripe in late winter or early spring. The flowers are 2 cm (1 in) in diameter, white, with five petals, and produced in stiff panicles of three to ten flowers. The flowers have a sweet, heady aroma that can be smelled from a distance.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Eriobotrya Japonica</i> (Thunb.) Lindl.
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Eriobotrya Japonica</i>  (Thunb.) Lindl.
Wikimedia Commons

  • Flowers are followed by small spherical to pear-shaped fruits (to 1-2" long), each with juicy flesh and one to several large seeds. Fruits typically ripen in spring. Fruits have smooth to downy, yellow to orange skin. Fruits are excellent when eaten fresh off the tree or in salads, sauces, jellies/jams or tarts/pies.

<i>Eriobotrya Japonica</i>  (Thunb.) Lindl.

Fig. 8 (a)  Eriobotrya Japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.

<i>Eriobotrya Japonica</i>  (Thunb.) Lindl.

Fig. 8 (b)  Eriobotrya Japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.

<i>Eriobotrya Japonica</i>  (Thunb.) Lindl.

Fig. 8 (c)  Eriobotrya Japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.


Table 9.   Passiflora ligularis A. Juss.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Passifloraceae Passiflora ligularis P. ligularis Passiflora ligularis A. Juss. Granadilla
Description Conservation status Images
  • Passiflora ligularis, commonly known as sweet granadilla or grenadia, is native to the Andes Mountains between Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia. The epithet ligularis comes from the plant's ligulate corollae.

  • It likes climates ranging from 15° to 18° C and between 600 and 1000 mm of annual rain. It lives at altitudes ranging from 1700 to 2600 meters above sea level. It has abundant, simple leaves and greenish-white flowers.

  • It is a large herbaceous climber, to several meters in height, with stout tendrils. Stems greyish, furrowed. Stipules large, 1-2.5 cm. Leaves ovate, cordate; margin entire; petiole bearing prominent glands. Flowers 6-9 cm in diameter. Bracts large, c. 3 cm, ovate. Sepals acute. Petals 3 cm, white or pinkish-white. Corona in 5-7 rows, the filaments with white and purple bands. Fruit 6-8 cm, ovoid.

  • The fruit is orange to yellow colored with small light markings. It has a round shape with a tip ending in the stem. The fruit is between 6.5 and 8 cm long and between 5.1 and 7 cm in diameter. The outer shell is hard and slippery, and has soft padding on the interior to protect the seeds. The seeds, which are hard and black, are surrounded by a gelatinous sphere of transparent pulp.

  • The pulp is the edible part of the fruit and has a soft sweet taste. It is very aromatic and contains vitamins A, C, and K, phosphorus, iron, and calcium.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Passiflora ligularis </i>A. Juss.
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Passiflora ligularis </i>A. Juss.
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Passiflora ligularis </i>A. Juss.

Fig. 9 (a)  Passiflora ligularis A. Juss.

<i><i>Passiflora ligularis </i>A. Juss.

Fig. 9 (b)  Passiflora ligularis A. Juss.

<i>Passiflora ligularis </i>A. Juss.

Fig. 9 (c)  Passiflora ligularis A. Juss.


Table 10.   Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicholson.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Bignoniaceae Tabebuia chrysantha T. chrysantha Tabebuia chrysantha
(Jacq.) G. Nicholson.
Guayacán, porotillo, yellow ipê, araguaney
Description Conservation status Images
  • Tabebuia chrysantha (Araguaney or yellow Ipê), known as guayacan in Ecuador and Colombia, as tajibo in Bolivia, and as ipê-amarelo in Brazil, is a native tree of the intertropical broadleaf deciduous forests of South America above the Tropic of Capricorn.

  • The araguaney dwells in clearings of deciduous tropical forests of the broad Guiana Shield region. It is also native to warm lands and sabanas and even some arid hills. Its habitat ranges 400 to 1700 m above sea level.

  • It is a rustic deciduous tree that defies hard, dry or poor soils. Therefore, its roots require well drained terrain. Its height ranges 6 to 12 m.

  • Leaves are opposite and petiolate, elliptic and lanceolate, with pinnate venation. Flowers are large, tubular shaped, with broadening corolla of deep yellow colour, about 2 inches long; they come out (February to April) before the tree has grown back any leaves.

  • Flowering and fruiting take place in dry season, from February to April, this way the seeds can take advantage of early rains. If the rainy season is delayed, the guayacan may flower and fruit, mildly, a second time. It is a highly efficient moisture manager.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Tabebuia chrysantha </i> <br>(Jacq.) G. Nicholson.


<i>Tabebuia chrysantha </i> <br>(Jacq.) G. Nicholson.


<i>Tabebuia chrysantha </i> <br>(Jacq.) G. Nicholson.

<i>Tabebuia chrysantha </i> (Jacq.) G. Nicholson.

Fig. 10 (a)  Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicholson.

<i>Tabebuia chrysantha </i> (Jacq.) G. Nicholson.

Fig.10 (b)  Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicholson.

<i>Tabebuia chrysantha </i> (Jacq.) G. Nicholson.

Fig.10 (c)  Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicholson.


Table 11.   Acacia macracantha Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Mimosaceae (Fabaceae) Acacia macracantha A. macracantha Acacia macracantha
Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.
Faique
Description Conservation status Images
  • Acacia macracantha is a tree species native to America, being found from Mexico to northwest Argentina.

  • The tree reaches a height of 4 m, and the trunk is heavy, of dark gray color. The leaves have large thorns. The flowers are yellow, with fruit in the form of pods filled with small brown seeds.

  • Acacia macracantha flowers and fruits during the rainy season. It is found in disturbed areas, in gullies, slopes, and hills.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Acacia macracantha </i> Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Acacia macracantha </i> Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.

Fig. 11 (a)  Acacia macracantha Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.

<i>Acacia macracantha </i> Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.

Fig. 11 (b)  Acacia macracantha Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.

<i>Acacia macracantha </i> Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.

Fig. 11 (c)  Acacia macracantha Humboldt and Bonpland ex Willd.


Table 12.   Podocarpus sprucei Parl.  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Podocarpaceae Podocarpus sprucei P. sprucei Podocarpus sprucei
Parl
Guabisay, huapsay, romerillo
Description Conservation status Images
  • Podocarpus sprucei is a species of conifer in the Podocarpaceae family endemic to Ecuador and Peru.

  • It is a high montane species growing in cloud forest up to the tree line, at altitudes from 1,800 m to 3,900 m. Only in forests at lower altitudes does it become a tree to 20 m tall.

  • It produces seeds that are attractive to birds and mammals. Their single-seeded fruits, 10-20 mm across, fit a common dispersal syndrome of montane forest canopy and subcanopy trees.

  • The wood of this species is much in demand and trees are logged from primary forest often unsustainably due to scarcity and slow growth. It is used in house construction and to make furniture as it takes a fine polish.

  • Selective felling leads to forest degradation and is followed by the conversion of forest for agriculture and pastoralism. Remaining forests are increasingly fragmented. Few trees remain in Peru and there have been significant declines in Ecuador.

Endangered (EN)
<i>Podocarpus sprucei </i> Parl.
Wikimedia Commons
<i>Podocarpus sprucei </i> Parl.
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Podocarpus sprucei </i> Parl.

Fig. 12 (a)  Podocarpus sprucei Parl.

<i>Podocarpus sprucei </i> Parl.

Fig. 12 (b)  Podocarpus sprucei Parl.

<i>Podocarpus sprucei </i> Parl.

Fig. 12 (c)  Podocarpus sprucei Parl.


Table 13.   Tipuana tipu (Benth.) O. Kunzte  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Fabaceae Tipuana tipu T. tipu Tipuana tipu (Benth.) O. Kunzte Pride of Bolivia, tipa, rosewood
Description Conservation status Images
  • Tipuana tipu is a South American tree. It is the only species of the genus Tipuana.

  • It is a late deciduous tree; it likes full sun, it tolerates varied conditions, and grows rapidly.

  • Growing up to 30 m in height and 20 m wide, this tree is well known for its use as a shade tree.

  • The leaves of the tree vary in length from 2 to 7 centimetres or more and they grow in clusters. The flowers are bright yellow in color and bloom only briefly in late summer. The fruit is a legume (pod) with the seed at one end, resembling a samara (the fruit of the Ash genus, Fraxinus).

  • It is a deciduous tree, shedding all its leaves and large "helicopter" seed packets. t produces masses of seeds, most of which succeed in germinating, and it can withstand a very wide range of growing conditions, from low temperatures to salty soils to drought.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Tipuana tipu</i> (Benth.) O. Kunzte
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Tipuana tipu</i> (Benth.) O. Kunzte
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Tipuana tipu</i> (Benth.) O. Kunzte

Fig. 13 (a)  Tipuana tipu (Benth.) O. Kunzte.

<i>Tipuana tipu</i> (Benth.) O. Kunzte

Fig. 13 (b)  Tipuana tipu (Benth.) O. Kunzte.

<i>Tipuana tipu</i> (Benth.) O. Kunzte

Fig. 13 (c)  Tipuana tipu (Benth.) O. Kunzte.

<i>Tipuana tipu</i> (Benth.) O. Kunzte

Fig. 13 (d)  Tipuana tipu (Benth.) O. Kunzte.


Table 14.   Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kunzte  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Caesalpiniaceae Caesalpinia spinosa C. spinosa Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kunzte Changue, guarango, campeche, vainillo, tara, taya
Description Conservation status Images
  • C. spinosa is native to Peru and can be found growing throughout northern, western and southern South America, from Venezuela to Argentina.

  • In Loja, Ecuador, the tara grows from the low dry areas to moist areas at 2000 m elevation. It prefers the creeks and seasonal and/or permanent moisture. It can reach a height of 5 m.

  • It typically grows 2-5 m tall; its bark is dark gray with scattered prickles and hairy twigs. Leaves are alternate, evergreen; they consist of 3-10 pairs of primary leaflets uner 8 cm in length, and 5-7 pairs of elliptic secondary leaftles, each about 1.5-4.0 cm long.

  • The flowers are yellow to orange, with 6-7 mm petals. The fruit is a flat, oblong pod, about 6-12 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, containing 4-7 round black seeds, which will redden when mature.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Caesalpinia spinosa</i> (Molina) Kunzte
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Caesalpinia spinosa</i> (Molina) Kunzte
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Caesalpinia spinosa</i> (Molina) Kunzte

Fig. 14 (a)  Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kunzte.

<i>Caesalpinia spinosa</i> (Molina) Kunzte

Fig. 14 (b)  Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kunzte.

<i>Caesalpinia spinosa</i> (Molina) Kunzte

Fig. 14 (c)  Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kunzte.

<i>Caesalpinia spinosa</i> (Molina) Kunzte

Fig. 14 (d)  Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kunzte.


Table 15.   Delostoma integrifolium D. Don  [Top]
Family Genus Species Complete scientific name Common name
Bignoniaceae Delostoma D. integrifolium Delostoma integrifolium D. Don Guaylo, yaloman
Description Conservation status Images
  • This species' range is in the neotropical Americas.

  • It can be a shrub or a tree. Its habitat is a hyperhumid, humid, or dry montane forest, between 1800 and 2600 m elevation.

  • It has large rosy pink trumpet-shaped flowers, dark green crinkled glossy leaves, with flowers in the winter and summer; minimum -2°C.

  • The tree can reach a height of 15 m, and its trunk can reach a diameter of 40 cm.

  • Its canopy is irregular; its leaves are simple, opposite, they measure 12 cm in length by 8 cm in width, and they are pointed at the end.

  • The flowers are about 5 cm long, of white and pink color, ending in five petals of violet color with purple lines.

  • The fruit is somewhat flat, angled at the end, of green color, turning brown when ripe. Each fruit contains a large number of seeds.

Not Evaluated (NE)
<i>Delostoma integrifolium </i>D. 
Don
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Delostoma integrifolium </i>D. 
Don
Wikimedia Commons

<i>Delostoma integrifolium </i>D. 
Don

Fig. 15 (a)  Delostoma integrifolium D. Don.

<i>Delostoma integrifolium </i>D. 
Don

Fig. 15 (b)  Delostoma integrifolium D. Don.

<i>Delostoma integrifolium </i>D. 
Don

Fig. 15 (c)  Delostoma integrifolium D. Don.


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