PERU TRAVEL PLANNER
The flora in Peru is very diverse due to different climatic and
physical conditions of the territory. Many professional and tourist come to
study the Rainforest plants and for the flora observation. The rainforest
vegetation is represented by tropical forests, where alternate innumerable wood
tree species of diverse quality as well as palm trees and Orchid, this is very
attractive for forest insects. The plants provide shelter and food for animals.
20% of the world's plant species are found in the rainforests. In the lagoons
along the Amazon River is the Victoria Amazon plant, whose circulars leaves
reach over a meter in diameter. The rainforest plants grow because the weather
is warm and humid for being in a tropical area. The humidity is very important
as suits them. The plants that are carnivorous are because they have adapted to
live in places with dry ground (low water). Many forest plants are medicines,
some of them can be eaten directly. In the Peruvian Amazon, there are a variety
of medicinal herbs and trees, which have healing properties thanks to the kind
spirits that inhabit them.
The heights of the trees are home of numerous animals such as monkeys and birds
of different species that rarely or never descend to the ground. The warmth and
humidity, the gloom of the lowlands, excess of lianas and creepers make
difficult the penetration of man into the jungle, possible only through the
rivers, which are the main communication channel in these regions.
There is great diversity of flora in the Amazon of Peru, can be found from
grasses, shrubs, lianas, epiphytes and climbers even giant trees. It also
features different habitats, so it is considered one of the most biodiversity in
the world. In the Peruvian Amazon are two different types of forests, flooded
forests, due to the rise of the rivers, and upland forests or high.
The flora of the high forest ecoregion is diverse in tree species and epiphytes,
especially orchids, bromeliads, ferns, mosses and lichens.
In the lower areas the forest is very high, leafy, sometimes difficult to
penetrate, but as altitude increases it becomes less high, while epiphytes begin
to occupy an increasingly larger, until culminating in the elfin forest.
Orchids: Peru has a large variety of orchids, some restricted to their
natural regions. They are epiphytic or terrestrial. They grow between 100 and 4
600 meters. Many of them are endanger due to illegal trade and deforestation of
their habitat. Of the 30 000 species of orchids in Peru grow more than 3 000.
They live in lowland.
Uña de Gato (Cat's claw): A climbing plant which has medicinal use, it
reaches 15 meters. This plan is original of Peru, which grows in the wilds of
the Peruvian jungle. It is used as traditional medicine for the ethnicity of the
Ashaninka, and applied for many centuries to heal deep wounds and to relieve
bone pain, for the kidneys and to treat women after childbirth.
Heliconia: Is a genus which includes over 100 species of tropical plants.
Herbs are from 1 to 7 meters high, it has simple leaves.
The Lupuna tree (Ceiba Pentandra): Occupies a very important position in
the ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest. Provides shelter and food for many
varieties of Amazon wildlife
Cattleya: Is a genus of between 50 and 75 species of epiphytic orchids.
They are found in mountain forests of fog and humidity at altitudes from 1000 to
1500 meters. Require much light; they can be exposed to almost direct light.
Screw: It is a tree species belonging to the legume family. It is slow
growing, tolerates drought well. It reaches 30 to 50 m high. is currently the
most promising native tree species in the Peruvian Amazon. Is a forest with
valuable timber features and has widespread use in Peru. It is considered among
the five tree species most prized by the Amazon villager from economically and
commercially is one of the most commonly used woods.
Huasai: The huasai has many medicinal properties: it acts against the
fever, malaria, jaundice, diabetes, bleeding, muscle pain, liver and kidney
Sangre de Grado: Since ancient times, traditional medicine has used the
red latex of this tree for the healing of external wounds and stomach and
intestinal ulcers. Sangre de grado also acts against rheumatic swellings,
hemorrhoids, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and malaria. It also helps in childbirth,
serving as antiseptic and contraceptive properties.
The Oje is a tree whose bark produces a milky white latex that fights uta,
rheumatism, toothache and snakebite. Furthermore, it is an effective blood
purifier and a powerful health restorative. What's more, the decoction of the
leaves acts against anemia and fever.
Copaiba: The balsam or copaiba resin is used as a healing, antiseptic,
anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, controls acne, and acts against
psoriasis, herpes, rheumatism, tonsillitis, cancer, cough, chronic bronchitis,
asthma, stomach ulcers, leucorrhoea, pain ear, hemorrhoids, tetanus and muscle
Cedar: The bark, resin, cedar leaves and flowers have many medicinal
qualities, they act against fever, cough, uta, gangrene, diarrhea, malaria and
toothaches. It is also effective for urinary diseases, skin wounds and snake