Cucharo (Myrsine guianensis)

Descripción

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPECIES

This species can reach heights of up to 20m, its leaves are characterized by a leathery texture and being shiny on the upper side and opaque on the underside. It has small white flowers and berry-like fruits that vary between green and dark purple depending on their stage of development.

ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE

As already mentioned, it is a species that is very resistant to climatic and altitude variations, it adapts to difficult conditions, its growth is fast and it develops well in poor and eroded soils, which makes it a perfect species to carry out ecological restorations. (RNSC, 2021), since after the soil of an area has gone through disturbances (whether natural or caused by man) it becomes difficult terrain for plants to re-establish themselves there, hence the importance of Myrsine guianensis , by adapting to difficult conditions, becomes a pioneer species, generating organic matter to stimulate soil dynamics and, in turn, attracting dispersing fauna to the area.

ASSOCIATED FAUNA IN THE AREA

( Common Chingolo, Zonotrichia capensis)

It is well known that the Myrsine guianensis species is highly visited by birds of different species, however, in Cajicá it is related to a particular species: Zonotrichia Capensis or better known as Copetón. This relationship is important because, at present, the cities have stopped seeing the tufts in their green areas, fostering the belief that the tufts are becoming extinct. The reality is that these birds have decided to migrate to the outskirts of cities looking for quieter places to settle, that is why Myrsine guianensis is so important in our planting days, because in addition to recovering degraded soils, it offers food and shelter to birds of the region and those who are looking for better places to live.