PLANTS AND TREES
The highest areas such as the high Andean forest of paramo that is between 3000 and 4000 meters above sea level have trees with moss and lichens. The most common trees are: Mortiño, Romero, Aliso and Encenillo.
Alder
This is a deciduous tree. We can place it among those of medium height, it usually reaches between 20 and 30 meters. Its trunk is straight and it is covered by a grayish brown bark in the adult specimens and reddish brown in the younger ones.
The leaves of the alder present a variety of hues, Dark green and extremely intense on the upper side and markedly lighter on the underside. The length of the leaves reaches 12 centimeters and their petioles are short. Its shape is rounded and domed, with serrated or serrated edges. Although it is a tree whose foliage is deciduous, the leaves remain green until it falls. The younger shoots and leaves have resinous glands that give it a very particular sticky texture.
It blooms when its leaves have not yet begun to appear. The flowers are presented in catkins. The masculine ones measure between 5 and 10 centimeters, they are thin, cylindrical in shape and appear pendulously, they present a showy and particular reddish color. The female catkins, on the other hand, are small, not larger than 2 centimeters, brown in color and with a woody texture.
Cucharo
It is a tree of the Myrsinaceae family that is found in Latin America and especially in our country: Colombia, where we can find it in practically all types of climate.
The most interesting thing about the Cucharo is that it grows in soils where others do not grow, soils with little humidity for example. It is a tree of rapid growth and reaches between 7 and 15 meters in height, its branches are long and flexible and have flowers and fruits that round them off. The color of its stem is gray but its bark is reddish.
The fruits of the Cucharo serve as food for many and varied species of birds and the flowers are pollinated by them at the same time.
The Cucharo can live up to 30 years and it is used more than anything as an ornamental tree or to build crafts or fences with its wood.
Romero
This is a deciduous tree. We can place it among those of medium height, it usually reaches between 20 and 30 meters. Its trunk is straight and it is covered by a grayish brown bark in the adult specimens and reddish brown in the younger ones.
The leaves of the alder present a variety of hues. Dark green and extremely intense on the upper side and markedly lighter on the underside. The length of the leaves reaches 12 centimeters and their petioles are short. Its shape is rounded and domed, with serrated or serrated edges. Although it is a tree whose foliage is deciduous, the leaves remain green until it falls. The younger shoots and leaves have resinous glands that give it a very particular sticky texture.
It blooms when its leaves have not yet begun to appear. The flowers are presented in catkins. The masculine ones measure between 5 and 10 centimeters, they are thin, cylindrical in shape and appear pendulously, they present a showy and particular reddish color, the female catkins, on the other hand, are small, not larger than 2 centimeters, brown in color and with a woody texture.