Biology:Escallonia resinosa
| Escallonia resinosa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Escalloniales |
| Family: | Escalloniaceae |
| Genus: | Escallonia |
| Species: | E. resinosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Escallonia resinosa (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers.
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Escallonia cuneifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Schult. | |
Escallonia resinosa is an evergreen shrub or tree native to the Andean forests of Peru, Bolivia and southern Ecuador from 2600 to 4200 meters above sea level.[1] A component of high Andean forests, it is regarded as an important source of raw materials for the Andean peoples.[2][3]
Description
Escallonia resinosa grows as a shrub or tree from 2 to 10 m in height.[1][3] The trunk has an irregular shape and is often twisted, with a reddish papery bark.[3] Leaves are simple and spirally arranged, often clustered at the end of the branchlets, oblanceolate, 2–3.5 cm long, 0.5–0.7 cm wide, with a finely dentate margin.[3] Flowers are white, small (ca. 1 cm long), and borne in racemes or panicles.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Escallonia resinosa is found in the Andes, from southern Ecuador to Peru and Bolivia, between 2600 and 4200 m of elevation. It is found in seasonally dry montane forests of mountain slopes, often growing in association with trees of genera Polylepis and Buddleja.[2]
Uses
Escallonia resinosa is a source of firewood and wood of good quality throughout its range.[3] This tree species furnishes a hard wood for tools and is often used to manufacture chaquitacllas (a tool used for soil plowing) by the indigenous peoples of the Andes since ancient times.[3] The wood was also probably used by the Incas to make a type of ceremonial vases called kero.[4][5] Leaves are used as a source of a beige color dye applied to cotton and wool.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Tropicos.org". Missouri Botanical Garden. http://www.tropicos.org/Name/29100699.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gade, Daniel (1999). Nature and Culture in the Andes. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 43.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Reynel, Carlos; Marcelo, Jose Luis (2009) (in es). Árboles de los Ecosistemas Forestales Andinos. Lima: ECOBONA. pp. 64–69.
- ↑ Carreras, Raquel; Escalera, Andrés (1998). "Identificación de la madera de las vasijas de libación inca (keros) pertenecientes a la colección del Museo de América." (in es). Anales. Museo de América (6): 217–222. http://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/1455877.pdf. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ↑ Falcón, Víctor (2011). "Aproximación a los queros incaicos de la Colonia" (in es). http://www.arqueologiadelperu.com/aproximacion-a-los-queros-incaicos-de-la-colonia/.
- ↑ Antúnez de Mayolo, Kay (1989). "Peruvian natural dye plants". Economic Botany 43 (2): 181–191. doi:10.1007/BF02859858.
Wikidata ☰ Q1366783 entry
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