CONSERVATION OF RARE HARDY PLANTS: A CASE IN POINT |
| In a recent note 1 J.L. Venero of the Instituto Nacional Forestal y de Fauna in Lima, Peru, reports the occurrences of a small relict stand of Prosopis laevigata var. andicola at an archaeological site at 2926 m.a.s.l. in Calca (Cusco, Peru). According to the literature this species (about which there has been some taxonomic confusion in the past) also occurs at 2000–2100 m in Arequipa, Peru, up to 2650 m in Bolivia, 2700 m in Argentina and 2900 m in Mexico. The stand covers about one ha and consists of 78 shrubs of average height 1.6 m, maximum height 2.9 m. |
| The species is not popular since it is armed with numerous thorns up to 9 cm long that are damaging to man, livestock and motor tyres. Nevertheless an occurrence of this sort is important since the species is one of the few capable of growing in such harsh, high altitude environments in the region. It is a potential source of food and shelter for man, his livestock and the natural fauna. It can provide fuelwood, stock-proof fencing, shelter and soil protection. The fruits can be used for human or animal consumption or processed to produce a sweet drink “algarrobina”. Steps should be taken to conserve this and other stands of a potentially valuable, but endangered, variety. |
| 1 Venero, J.L. (1984). Un algarrobal en Calca-Cusco. Boletin de Lima 33: 53–56. |
