Plants in danger of extinction in Peru

The puya is an endemic plant of Peru that grows at altitudes between 3,200 and 4,800 meters above sea level. Its vegetative part can measure up to 4 meters and, together with its raceme (or inflorescence ), it can reach 12 meters in height. It is from the same family as the pineapple and is named after the quills (or “puyas”) that protrude from its bunches. It can live up to 100 years and it is only just before its death that it releases its seeds.

We continue with mahogany (also called mahogany ). It is a tree that grows in the Peruvian Amazon and has a very solid reddish wood with great value in making furniture because it is easy to carve. This has made indiscriminate logging to leave it in a very vulnerable situation.

Cat ‘s claw is another of the Peruvian plants that are in danger of extinction or threatened. This plant grows in the Peruvian jungle along the eastern flank of the Andes mountain range and is a climbing plant. It is used by the indigenous inhabitants as a medicinal plant , as it has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and also oxidative properties.

This endangered plant is a herb with white bulbs, deep green leaves, and yellow flowers with a greenish interior. The Amancaes flower germinates on the Peruvian coasts amidst stones and mist from the cold season. It only blooms once a year, as it has a life time of about 2 to 4 days.

It is a tree found in the Amazon rainforest . It is known as the national tree of Peru , as it is included in the national coat of arms as a symbol of the country’s natural wealth. Its bark has medicinal qualities. Thus, cinchona infusions are recommended as antipyretic, digestive, antiseptic and healing.

This species can grow in the form of a bush or a tree with a height of between 12 to 18 m. The white mangrove is characterized by having long branches, which intertwine with its external roots, forming the well-known mangroves present in estuaries and coastal areas of tropical latitudes. The modification of the natural course of water bodies represents a serious risk for this species.

The queñoa grows at very high altitudes (more than 3,200 meters) in the humid mountain forest. Its population has been reduced by burning and logging, but it is a good candidate for reforestation , since it has a fairly rapid growth and a good adaptation. As a curiosity, it is the tree that can survive the highest in the world.

This beautiful species of orchid is native to the montane forests of northern Peru and grows at more than 1,600 meters above sea level. It is critically endangered and is therefore protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The carzo is yet another species that is critically endangered . Logging for wood, as well as recent deforestation to increase the amount of crops, has caused its distribution to be restricted only to the Cinto Valley, in southern Peru.

It is a herbaceous Peruvian plant that lives for two years and that we can only find in the Andes of Peru . Its medicinal uses include those attributed to it to regulate fat metabolism and alleviate liver disease. That is why, like cat’s claw, it is in danger of extinction .

It is a species that grows in the desert of Peru , where there are oases of mists. The myrtle is critically endangered and is due to excessive droughts in the area, as well as human activity (construction, mining, deforestation, etc.).

It is an endemic species of medium shrubs that are located in the upper Marañón valley in northern Peru, which is a semi-desert area. There are very few examples of canaquil gum left , it is believed that between 150 or 200 only. Agriculture, logging and logging are what have so depleted its population.

Other species of the flora of Peru that are in danger of extinction are:

• Cristobal or palo ant ( Platymiscium dimorphandrum ).
• Axinaea ( Axinaea oblongifolia ).
• El romerillo (Podocarpus glomeratus).
• The carob tree ( Prosopis pallida ).
• Cedar ( Cedrela odorata ).

We say goodbye, remembering that the great wealth of Peruvian flora is a source of pride for the inhabitants of Peru, but its conservation represents a great challenge. Therefore, we must bet on conservation and protection figures such as those that represent the Abiseo River National Park, the Historic Sanctuary of Machupicchu and the Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve.

If you want to read more articles similar to Plants in danger of extinction in Peru , we recommend that you enter our Biology category .