ARID UPLANDS/WET SEASON
PASTURE
General Overview
Arid hillsides have a mix of vegetative types, including
low and high scrub, and pasture. Hillside scrub tends to dominate
at mid elevations where burning is not practiced. The shrubs,
agave, cactuses, and herbaceous (non-woody) plants that make
up this scrub system are dry tolerant. They play an important
role in stabilizing the soil. Some shrubs may also help create
a more hospitable environment for trees like the huilco to
re-establish. Pasture is comprised mostly of various species
of grass, as well as other herbaceous types of plants. Pastureland
is used in the wet season to graze cows and horses. Frequent
burning is often used to maintain the grasses. (For more information
on the practice of burning, see the sidebar titled “Fanning
the Flames”, in Section 2.)
A Few of the Key Species Often Found in Upland Scrub
 Acacia,
faique (Mimosaceae family, Acacia macracantha)
This provincial tree of Loja is another nitrogen fixing legume.
It is in the same family as the huilco; with a delicate, feathery
leaf similar to that of the huilco. Its seed pod also resembles
that of the huilco’s. But this altogether different
plant can be quickly distinguished from the huilco by its
thorns, which can grow to 10 cm, and deliver a painful puncture,
sometimes followed by infection. Also unlike the huilco, the
acacia is highly adaptable, and thrives on sloping, nutrient-deficient,
arid soils. Under these conditions, large numbers of small
acacia shrubs may be found. Under better conditions, this
plant can rapidly grow into a tree of 6 to 12 m, with a trunk
of 40 cm in diameter. The acacia’s golden-yellow, fragrant
flowers usually appear in November to February. As noted in
Section 2 (under Environmental Impacts), the plant is dispersed
by livestock, and rose to a dominant position in the local
ecology as the land was cleared and grazing animals introduced.
As well as providing forage, the acacia’s wood has many
uses (e.g., firewood, fences, parquet, light construction).
 Guayabilla
(Myrtaceae family, Psidium guineense)
This small tree has no relationship to the guaba tree (described
under the Riversides landscape system). It is, however, in
the same family as the rose-apple (also described in Riversides);
and the fruit is similar in appearance, though smaller. Unlike
a ripe rose-apple, the fruit of the guayabilla tree is acidic
and sour. It can be used to treat amoebas. To confuse matters,
the guayabilla is closely related to the larger guayaba (Psidium
guajava), found at lower altitudes. This fruit can also be
used to treat amoebas, but is sweeter than that of the guayabilla.
Chamana (Dodonaea viscosa)
This shrub, shown on the right, can grow up to 6 m (20 ft),
and is often found in stands. Its three-part seed capsule
is a pale, almost translucent pink. The very strong wood was
used in the past to make plow heads. Placing the leaf in a
shoe or boot will reduce foot odour.
Moshquera (Euphorbiaceae family, Croton species)
This shrub, shown on the left, is often found where soils
have been disturbed. Like other Croton species that
yield the famed Sangre de Drago (blood of the dragon)
-- whose healing properties are increasingly recognized by
western science – the latex from this shrub can reputedly
be used to speed healing of wounds and to treat tooth pain.
Cactus species
There are many cacti native to the valley. The largest, shown
below, are the tuna cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica),
and the aguacolla or San Pedro cactus (Echynopsis pachanoi).
The tuna cactus has round spiny pads (leaves) and a bright
orange flower. The edible fruit, prickly pear, is reddish
when ripe. The cochineal insects found on this cactus look
like white mealworms, but when squashed show the bright reddish
colour from which a prized dye and food colour can be made.
The aguacolla cactus is very tall, growing to 4 or 5 metres.
It produces the hallucinogenic drug mescaline whose use, though
illegal, has been a key attraction for some visitors to Vilcabamba.
The aquacolla’s flowers first open only at night, releasing
a strong fragrance to attract their bat pollinator. They then
remain open continuously for two or three days.
 
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