Page 14 - ARUBA TODAY

A14 LOCAL
Tuesday 4 February 2020

Native suculents flora of Aruba Episode 55- LV

ORANJESTAD — The Aruban nature has been devastated of its lush veg-
etation since the arrival of the colonial era. However its arid landscape
is home to an extraordinarily diverse range of native vegetation or flora.
Native vegetation refers to any naturally occurring local plant species
which are indigenous to the island. Our today’s episode will be all about
suculents since our native suculents belongs to a very important segment
of or ecological, social and cultural system.

2-A cactus covered hill side close to Ayo rock formation.

Aruba's flora provides the unique species and looks more like a tree as it
landscapes of the region, providing branches out further from the ground;
habitat for an arange of native ani- its thorns form dense rows that stick
mals, create wildlife corridors, provide out in all directions.
protection from wind and water ero- 1- A yellow thorn Melocantus or bushi.
sion by holding the soil together after Pilosocereus lanuginosus, known lo-
a rain shower and reduces the green- cally as Cadushi di Plushi, has long
house effect. white hairy spines and yellow prickles
on the top of its branches.
Our island vegetation shapes local The cacti have a very important eco-
culture and national identity, and so logical role: their fruits and flowers,
in order to protect it we want and which bloom only at night, provide
hope to allow future generations to critical food resources for a variety of
enjoy their unique environment. The the islands’ bats, birds and reptiles.
thorny brushes, trees and cacti are There are also two varieties of melon
abundant, though not in large num- cactus four Opuntia`s or tuna and
bers of species. The cacti grows in the one Acanthocereus what Arubans
wild. Their seeds are dispersed by the calls Cushicuri or Cadushi di Colebra.
wind and fauna, specially birds and Cadushi di Colebra means Snake
bats that feast on their delicious fruits. Cactus. There is also a cactus type
that has leaves known as Pereskia
There are three types of candelabra guamacho which locals call Asufro
or organ pipe cacti species that dom- phosphorus.
inate the landscape of the island. Furthermore there are about eight
Stenocereus griseus, Cereus repandus types of Agave also a few Bromeliads
and Pilosocereus lanuginosus. and a great variety of xenophiles.
Stenocereus griseus grows straight The cactus tree has been used to
up and branches out close to the make fences in order to separate
ground; its thorns make up neat rows land plots. They are also eaten as a
of rosettes. vegetable in soups or stew.
Cereus repandus, known locally as 3-Succulents inspired Art work
Breba, is the largest of the three cacti Continued on Page 15