Escallonia resinosa

Description

Escallonia resinosa is an evergreen shrub or tree native to the Andean forests of Peru, Bolivia and southern Ecuador from 2600 to 4200 meters above sea level. A component of high Andean forests, it is regarded as an important source of raw materials for the Andean peoples. Escallonia resinosa grows as a shrub or tree from 2 to 10 m in height. The trunk has an irregular shape and is often twisted, with a reddish papery bark. Leaves are simple and spirally arranged, often clustered at the end of the branchlets, oblanceolate, 2–3.5 cm long, 0.5–0.7 cm wide, with a finely dentate margin. Flowers are white, small (ca. 1 cm long), and borne in racemes or panicles. Escallonia resinosa is found in the Andes, from southern Ecuador to Peru and Bolivia, between 2600 and 4200 m of elevation. It is found in seasonally dry montane forests of mountain slopes, often growing in association with trees of genera Polylepis and Buddleja. Escallonia resinosa is a source of firewood and wood of good quality throughout its range.This tree species furnishes a hard wood for tools and is often used to manufacture chaquitacllas (a tool used for soil plowing) by the indigenous peoples of the Andes since ancient timesThe wood was also probably used by the Incas to make a type of ceremonial vases called kero. Leaves are used as a source of a beige color dye applied to cotton and wool. Escallonia is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Escalloniaceae. They are native to North and South America. Widely cultivated and commonly used as hedging plants, especially in coastal areas, escallonias grow about 30 cm (12 in) per year, reaching 1.5–3 m (5–10 ft) in height, with arching branches of small, oval, glossy green leaves. Flowering from June to October (in the Northern Hemisphere), they have masses of small pink, white or crimson flowers, sometimes with a honey fragrance. They are best grown in full sun with some shelter. Some varieties are not fully hardy in all areas. Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been developed,