Escallonia resinosa
Species of tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Escallonia resinosa is a species of evergreen shrub or tree in the family Escalloniaceae.[2][3] It is native to the Andean forests of Peru, Bolivia and southern Ecuador from 2600 to 4200 meters above sea level.[4] A component of high Andean forests, it is regarded as an important source of raw materials for the Andean peoples.[5][6]
| Escallonia resinosa | |
|---|---|
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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 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
Escallonia resinosa grows as a shrub or tree from 2 to 10 m in height.[4][6] The trunk has an irregular shape and is often twisted, with a reddish papery bark.[6] 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.[6] Flowers are white, small (ca. 1 cm long), and borne in racemes or panicles.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Uses
Escallonia resinosa is a source of firewood and wood of good quality throughout its range.[6] 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.[6] The wood was also probably used by the Incas to make a type of ceremonial vases called kero.[7][8] Leaves are used as a source of a beige color dye applied to cotton and wool.[9]