Caracterización florística del sendero Pumamaki, parroquia Natabuela, Imbabura – Ecuador

Abstract

Trails in forest remnants, whether in state-protected or private areas, are becoming increasingly important in the development of ecotourism, especially in the province of Imbabura, known as the province of the lakes, which also offers a diversity of options, some of them on the volcano of the same name. With the aim of photographing and herborising botanical specimens from the trail, the field phase was carried out in October and December 2021. Once taxonomically identified, the specimens were deposited in the QAP herbarium, series: Cerón et al. 89487-89584 and 89784-89827. 162 species, 136 genera, 73 families were recorded. 4 divisions: 3 Lycopodiophyta, 1 Echisetophyta, 14 Polypodiophyta and 144 Magnoliophyta: 9 habits: 58 herbs, 31 shrubs, 22 trees, 12 veins, 22 epiphytes, 8 subshrubs, 5 lianas and 2 parasites: 3 status: 145 native, 4 introduced and 13 endemic (8.02 %); frequent families are: Asteraceae (24 species), Orchidaceae (19), Polypodiaceae (8), Rubiaceae (6) and Fabaceae (5), and the rest with lower numbers up to 1. According to the IUCN categories, endemic species are grouped into: 1 EN (Casearia mexiae), 3 VU (Achyrocline hallii, Cronquistianthus niveus, Pentacalia floribunda), 4 NT (Jungia mitis, Geissanthus pichinchae, Daphnopsis macrophylla, Gomphichis crassilabia) and 5 LC (Polypodium segregatum, Gynoxys acostae, Macleania loeseneriana, Miconia papillosa and Oreopanax ecuadorensis); the last endemic known as Pumamaki, which gives the trail its name. The Imbabura volcano, in spite of having a strong anthropic action, still maintains remnants of forest and natural attractions that ecological tourism takes advantage of. This is the case of this path, interesting in its route, thanks to its rich flora, endemism, coverage, longevity and an imposing size of the Pumamaki, which in its coverage shelters many epiphytes among them: orchids, bromeliads, ferns, bryophytes, etc.