I found this species in a November, in "Jardín de los sueños" reserve of Guasaganda-La Mana / Ecuador.
I suspect that's kind of the Moraceae family, but failed to find flower or fruit, because I could not find another close one.
It is located approximately 340 meters above sea level, in a rainforest.
The shaft is about 3 meters, and the leaves are 45 cm long, 25 wide and 6 cm petiole, nor have stipule latex. It barks apparent role shaped segments, with conical spines of 2 mm diameter. Simple alternate leaves, elliptical, entire margin. Local people call it "Mata palo" and say it has a yellow fruit.
I thought in the genre Poulsenia sp.
Thank you for your contribution
Dear Andrei Gonzales,
I'm really sorry, but I can not help you.
Best regards,
László Nowinszky
Andrei, if they are calling it Matapalo tree, then it's a species of Ficus. I see a reference on p. 108 to it in: The forests of western and central Ecuador
By United States. Forest Service, L. H. Holdridge
It is indeed a member of the Moraceae family. It is Ficus subandina according to: Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology
By M.M. Grandtner, Julien Chevrette
Of course, the common name means 'wood killer' and it's a tree that strangles more valuable ones it seems. So the common name varies by country, but all seem to be species of Ficus and the above reference states F. subandina for Ecuador.
Good luck!
Andrei Milton Gonzales Iturri.
This tree is Poulsenia armata (Miq.) Standl., native to rainforests from Mexico to Bolivia.
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:1059330-2
Thanks!
- Badges
- Science topic