I Speak For The Trees

Posts Tagged ‘endangered

Anthurium, sect. Pachyneurium

Posted by: The Lorax in: ● September 12, 2008

Birdsnest Anthurium, from the upper transitional forests above Mera, Pastaza Province.  To mark the passing of what was a really horrible day for a lot of people worldwide, I want to show you something rare and encouraging.  These are wild Anthuriums from the section Pachyneurium, which are nearly extinct around Pastaza due to their popularity as an export plant to places like Indonesia.  They are growing in the Bosque Protector Rio Antzu, a private preserve of middle to high altitude primary transitional forest.  These Anthuriums are not very big plants, certainly nothing like the size of the ones I had in cultivation (you can find that by clicking here - they are perhaps 2 feet tall at the tip of the longest blade, and the spadices are 5 or 6 inches.

 

I wish to make clear at this point that I am a photographer first and a conservationist second; I do not collect or sell plants.  Especially within forest preserves.  If you are interested in purchasing Ecuadorian aroids of any genus or section, you should contact Ecuagenera at http://www.ecuagenera.com (look in the tropicals section)

Fuchsia dependens - Trailing Fuchsias

Posted by: The Lorax in: ● June 25, 2008

Fuchsia dependens

Fuchsia dependens, growing in Guarumal Grande, Pichincha Province.  One of about 110 species of Fuchsia, this is a trailing tree or tall shrub, covered in bundles of bright flame red flowers.  The largest specimens I’ve seen are over 15 meters tall.  As with all of this week’s plants, it is an endangered native of Ecuador’s cloud forests.  Fuchsia dependens tend to be understory to middle canopy trees, and do best in partial shade; the plants favour moist, well-drained soils and like a lot of water, although not wet feet.
The berries of Fuchsia dependens are small, purple, moist, and mildly flavoured, and much favoured as jungle food both by the indigenous of the cloud forests, and by parched hikers.