EVALUACIÓN DE LA COLECCIÓN DE PLANTAS SUCULENTAS DEL PARQUE HISTÓRICO GUAYAQUIL

Abstract

A collection of succulent plants that occupies 288.26 square meters in the wildlife area of Guayaquil Historical Park was evaluated; this area does not have a database available for scientific interest or the general public. An inventary was made to identify the species, density, relative coverage and dasometric measures were taken, description of the species, a digital catalogue was elaborated, and guidelines are presented to work up the initial idea of recreate the espinar coastal ecosystem. 34 species, 24 genders, 12 families and nine orders were identified. The absolute density was 401 individuals, with 24% of the population dominated by the Cactaceae family, and Armatocereus cartwrightianus as the most abundant species, with 32.7% in relative coverage. 25 plants of ornamental value were identified, 12 medicinal plants, seven edible species, one endemic specie of Ecuador, with Endangered (EN) category: Jatropha nudicaulis; eight species of the Cactaceae family with controlled trade, and eight harmful or irritating plants. Not all identified species were part of the espinar coastal ecosystem, so a reubication was proposed responding to their botanical characteristics.