Discover the Stunning Diversity of Woody Plants in the Untamed Amazon Jungle - Your Pictorial Field Guide to the Breathtaking Amazon Forest!

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The Amazon rainforest, with its towering trees and lush greenery, is a world-renowned treasure trove of biodiversity. Within this vast expanse lies an incredible variety of woody plants that serve as the backbone of this magnificent ecosystem. In this pictorial field guide, we will take you on an enlightening journey through the untamed Amazon jungle, uncovering the hidden gems of the plant world and showcasing their remarkable features that make them vital to the well-being of our planet.

Why Is the Amazon Rainforest Important?

The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the "Lungs of the Earth," plays a vital role in maintaining the global climate. It produces almost 20% of the world's oxygen and acts as a carbon sink, absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide. The diverse flora found in the Amazon also provides habitats for countless species of animals, insects, and birds, making it a true hotspot of biodiversity.

A Pictorial Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the Amazon VOL. IX: SAPOTACEAE - VOCHYSIACEAE

by Charles H. Eccleston (Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	228664 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	288 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Exploring the Woody Plants of the Amazon:

In this volume, we delve deep into the heart of the Amazon forest to unravel the mysteries surrounding its woody plant inhabitants. Each of these remarkable plants boasts unique characteristics that have allowed them to thrive in this challenging environment.

A. The Majestic Ceiba Tree

The towering Ceiba tree, also known as the Kapok, is one of the most iconic trees in the Amazon. Its massive trunk and expansive crown make it a dominant presence in the forest. We will explore the many uses of this tree, from its strong timber to its silky cotton-like fibers, which have been used for centuries in various cultural practices.

B. The Enigmatic Dragon's Blood Tree

The mysterious Dragon's Blood tree, with its distinctive red resin, has long fascinated explorers and locals alike. Its sap possesses extraordinary medicinal properties, and its heart-shaped leaves add to its allure. We will delve into the legends surrounding this fascinating tree and uncover both its traditional and modern uses.

C. The Multifunctional Balsa Tree

The lightweight yet incredibly strong Balsa tree has a wide range of applications. Its wood, with its low density and excellent buoyancy, is often used in various industries. Furthermore, the large flowers of the Balsa tree attract numerous pollinators, contributing to the overall biodiversity and productive ecosystem of the Amazon forest.

D. The Resilient Rubber Tree

The Rubber tree is a prime example of the remarkable adaptability of plants in the Amazon. Its latex, used to produce rubber, has been a valuable resource for both indigenous communities and the global economy. We will explore the fascinating history of rubber production and its impact on the Amazon region.

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The Amazon rainforest continues to captivate and mesmerize with its abundant flora and fauna. By understanding and appreciating the woody plants that thrive within this unique ecosystem, we can foster a deeper connection to nature and work towards preserving this invaluable haven for generations to come.

A Pictorial Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the Amazon VOL. IX: SAPOTACEAE - VOCHYSIACEAE

by Charles H. Eccleston (Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	228664 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	288 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Volume I of A Pictorial Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the Amazon focuses on the fruits of all known Guianan plants covering about one-hundred families, 546 genera, and over 2,000 species. Moreover, the fruits of a few major edible-fruit producing families that occur in the larger Amazon and not in the Guianas are also included, such as a number of Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Lecythidaceae, Myristicaceae, and Sapotaceae. This catalogue is restricted to woody plants only, i.e. trees and shrubs reaching over 1.5 m in height when full grown, lianas, vines, (hemi)-epiphytic climbing shrubs, and (sub)-ligneous epiphytes. Volumes II – IX of A Pictorial Field Guide to the Woody Plants of the Amazon treat 114 plant families in alphabetical order. This Flora Neotropica depicts and describes over 1,000 genera and nearly 10,000 species of woody plants that are known to occur in the larger Amazon.. Volume XI covers the families SAPOTACEAE - VOCHYSIACEAE, as follows:

SAPOTACEAE A.L. de Jussieu - 11
SIMAROUBACEAE DC. - 114
SIPARUNACEAE A. DC. Schodde - 123
SMILACACEAE Vent. - 129
SOLANACEAE Juss. - 135
STERCULIACEAE Bartling - 150
STRELITZIACEAE (Schumann) Hutch. - 168
STYRACACEAE Dumort. - 171
SYMPLOCACEAE Desf. - 174
THEACEAE D. Don. - 176
THEOPHRASTACEAE Link. - 180
TILIACEAE Juss. - 182
TRIGONIACEAE Endl. - 191
TURNERACEAE DC. - 193
ULMACEAE Mirbel - 196
VERBENACEAE J.St.-Hil. - 199
VIOLACEAE Batsch. - 212
VISCACEAE Miers - 224
VITACEAE Juss. - 226
VOCHYSIACEAE A. St.-Hil. - 230
INDEX OF ALL PLANT FAMILIES & GENERA TREATED - N° VOL./page(s) - 248
INDEX OF VERNACULAR NAMES USED IN BRAZIL - 257

Each family is headed by a short family description based mainly on the more practicable field characters of leaves, inflorescences, flowers, and fruits. The section Notes includes remarks on habit, secretory systems, and seed dispersal - only when one may generalize on family level. Following a family description, each genus within the family is numbered and mentioned together with the author’s name. A genus description is given when more than one species within the genus are described. Each genus is followed by the species in alphabetical order and sub-numbered. This facilitates a quick determination of both the number of genera treated within a certain family and the number of species treated within a certain genus. The species name is followed by the author’s name according to up-to-date taxonomic literature, while one or more synonyms may be added in brackets. The species descriptions, as presented in Volumes II-IX, usually include four sections, the first word of each section being printed in italics. The first section gives simple leaf characters as far as they are practicable in the field, using for instance a pair of binoculars. The second section describes main characters of inflorescence, infructescence, (fruiting) calyx, flowering and/or fruiting pedicel. The third section describes, as detailed as possible, external and internal characters of fruit and seed(s). The fourth section, “Notes”, gives various remarks that may be useful in the field, such as plant habit, presence of secretory systems, bark features, seed dispersal strategy, phenology, occurrence (based on data from literature and samples in the Utrecht Herbarium plant collection), habitat and soil type (data usually taken from labels), and geographical distribution within the Guianas and the larger Amazonian region (data based on the literature and checklists from the respective countries, label information and the internet).