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Plants of Ecuador

EC · -1.83°, -78.18°

We catalogue 50 plants documented in Ecuador 25 native and 25 introduced. Of these, 49 are edible and 18 have medicinal uses.

I

Native species

25

Species naturally occurring in Ecuador — best adapted to local climate and soil.

Alpine Spring Beauty
Alpine Spring Beauty
Claytonia megarhiza
edible
Amaranthus dubius
Amaranthus dubius
Amaranthus dubius
edible
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Ataco
Ataco
Amaranthus quitensis
edible
Beach Hibiscus
Beach Hibiscus
Talipariti tiliaceum
edible
Callicarpa mollis
Callicarpa mollis
Callicarpa mollis
edible
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
ediblemedicinal
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Frost Grape
Vitis cordifolia
Vitaceaeedible
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Ice Cream Bean
Ice Cream Bean
Inga jinicuil
Fabaceaeedible
Justicia procumbens
Justicia procumbens
Justicia procumbens
edible
Kangaroo Apple
Kangaroo Apple
Solanum laciniatum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Oxalis bifida
Oxalis bifida
Oxalis bifida
Fumariaceaeedible
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Acacia angustissima
edible
Rocky Mountains Zinnia
Rocky Mountains Zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora
Asteraceaemedicinal
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindaceaeedible
Smilax febrifuga
Smilax febrifuga
Smilax febrifuga
ediblemedicinal
Spike Trisetum
Spike Trisetum
Trisetum spicatum
Poaceaeedible
Spiny Holdback
Spiny Holdback
Caesalpinia spinosa
Caesalpiniaceaeedible
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Tassel Flower
Tassel Flower
Emilia coccinea
edible
Valeriana toluccana
Valeriana toluccana
Valeriana toluccana
Aristolochiaceaeediblemedicinal
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry
Physalis alkekengi
edible
II

Edible for food + foraging

49

Plants with edible parts documented in Ecuador. Always identify positively before harvest.

Alpine Spring Beauty
Alpine Spring Beauty
Claytonia megarhiza
edible
Amaranthus dubius
Amaranthus dubius
Amaranthus dubius
edible
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
Amaranthus polystachyus
edible
Ataco
Ataco
Amaranthus quitensis
edible
Beach Hibiscus
Beach Hibiscus
Talipariti tiliaceum
edible
Callicarpa mollis
Callicarpa mollis
Callicarpa mollis
edible
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
ediblemedicinal
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Frost Grape
Vitis cordifolia
Vitaceaeedible
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Ice Cream Bean
Ice Cream Bean
Inga jinicuil
Fabaceaeedible
Justicia procumbens
Justicia procumbens
Justicia procumbens
edible
Kangaroo Apple
Kangaroo Apple
Solanum laciniatum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Oxalis bifida
Oxalis bifida
Oxalis bifida
Fumariaceaeedible
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Prairie acacia Timbre Fernleaf Acacia
Acacia angustissima
edible
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindus marginatus
Sapindaceaeedible
Smilax febrifuga
Smilax febrifuga
Smilax febrifuga
ediblemedicinal
Spike Trisetum
Spike Trisetum
Trisetum spicatum
Poaceaeedible
Spiny Holdback
Spiny Holdback
Caesalpinia spinosa
Caesalpiniaceaeedible
Sunberry
Sunberry
Physalis minima
Solanaceaeedible
Tassel Flower
Tassel Flower
Emilia coccinea
edible
Valeriana toluccana
Valeriana toluccana
Valeriana toluccana
Aristolochiaceaeediblemedicinal
Winter Cherry
Winter Cherry
Physalis alkekengi
edible
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Capulin Cherry
Capulin Cherry
Prunus salicifolia
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Chia
Chia
Salvia hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Dendranthema x grandiflorum
edible
Citrumelo
Citrumelo
Citroncirus
edible
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Cow Tree
Cow Tree
Brosimum utile
Moraceaeedible
Crabapple
Crabapple
Malus sieversii
edible
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Fig
Fig
Ficus carica
Moraceaeedible
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Zingiberaceaeedible
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
Limnocharis flava
Limnocharis flava
Limnocharis flava
edible
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Rosaceaeedible
Medlar
Medlar
Mespilus germanica
Rosaceaeedible
Musk Mallow
Musk Mallow
Malva moschata
edible
Narrowleaf Cottonwood
Narrowleaf Cottonwood
Populus angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
edible
Paradise Apple
Paradise Apple
Malus pumila
edible
Picrasma excelsa
Picrasma excelsa
Picrasma excelsa
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
III

Medicinal traditional + clinical

18

Species with documented medicinal applications. See individual plant profiles for evidence + safety.

Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
Citrus reticulata
ediblemedicinal
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
Citrus sinensis
ediblemedicinal
Grapefruit
Grapefruit
Citrus x paradisi
Rutaceaeediblemedicinal
Kangaroo Apple
Kangaroo Apple
Solanum laciniatum
Solanaceaeediblemedicinal
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Large-Flower Evening Primrose
Oenothera glazioviana
ediblemedicinal
Rocky Mountains Zinnia
Rocky Mountains Zinnia
Zinnia grandiflora
Asteraceaemedicinal
Smilax febrifuga
Smilax febrifuga
Smilax febrifuga
ediblemedicinal
Valeriana toluccana
Valeriana toluccana
Valeriana toluccana
Aristolochiaceaeediblemedicinal
Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Capulin Cherry
Capulin Cherry
Prunus salicifolia
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Chia
Chia
Salvia hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Narrowleaf Cottonwood
Narrowleaf Cottonwood
Populus angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Picrasma excelsa
Picrasma excelsa
Picrasma excelsa
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
IV

Introduced naturalized + cultivated

25

Non-native species established in Ecuador. Some are valuable; some are invasive. Check each plant's notes.

Black Mustard
Black Mustard
Brassica nigra
ediblemedicinal
Capulin Cherry
Capulin Cherry
Prunus salicifolia
Rosaceaeediblemedicinal
Chia
Chia
Salvia hispanica
ediblemedicinal
Chinese Artichoke
Chinese Artichoke
Stachys affinis
Lamiaceaeediblemedicinal
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum
Dendranthema x grandiflorum
edible
Citrumelo
Citrumelo
Citroncirus
edible
Common sheep sorrel
Rumex tenuifolius
Polygonaceaeediblemedicinal
Cow Tree
Cow Tree
Brosimum utile
Moraceaeedible
Crabapple
Crabapple
Malus sieversii
edible
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Dandelion - Kukraundha
Taraxacum officinale
Asteraceaeediblemedicinal
European wild pear
European wild pear
Pyrus pyraster
edible
Fig
Fig
Ficus carica
Moraceaeedible
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Guinea grass Green panic grass
Panicum maximum
edible
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Hedychium spicatum
Zingiberaceaeedible
Herb of Grace
Herb of Grace
Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceaeediblemedicinal
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Lepidium iberis
Brassicaceaeedible
Limnocharis flava
Limnocharis flava
Limnocharis flava
edible
Loquat
Loquat
Eriobotrya japonica
ediblemedicinal
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Malus praecox
Rosaceaeedible
Medlar
Medlar
Mespilus germanica
Rosaceaeedible
Musk Mallow
Musk Mallow
Malva moschata
edible
Narrowleaf Cottonwood
Narrowleaf Cottonwood
Populus angustifolia
ediblemedicinal
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
Oxalis lasiandra
edible
Paradise Apple
Paradise Apple
Malus pumila
edible
Picrasma excelsa
Picrasma excelsa
Picrasma excelsa
Rubiaceaeediblemedicinal
V

Frequently asked

How many plants are documented in Ecuador?

50 speciess — 25 native and 25 introduced. Of these, 49 are edible and 18 have medicinal uses.

What edible plants grow wild in Ecuador?

Common edible species include Alpine Spring Beauty, Amaranthus dubius, Amaranthus polystachyus, Ataco, Beach Hibiscus. See the Edible section above for the full list.

What medicinal plants grow in Ecuador?

18 medicinal plants catalogued for Ecuador, including Citrus reticulata, Citrus sinensis, Grapefruit, Kangaroo Apple, Large-Flower Evening Primrose.

How is "native" vs "introduced" determined?

Status comes from TDWG botanical regions via Trefle. Native = naturally occurring there; introduced = brought in by humans, sometimes invasive. Both can be useful, but native species are typically the best fit for local conditions.

VI

Other americas

Antigua and Barbuda
AG
Argentina
AR
Barbados
BB
Bolivia
BO
Brazil
BR
Bahamas
BS
Belize
BZ
Canada
CA
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