Lauraceae Research by the Kew Gardens in the Chocó forests of the Ecuadorian Andes

English botanist Tom Wells—a researcher at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (Kew Gardens)—went into the Los Cedros Protected Forest for a few weeks in November to research the Lauraceae family, whose members include plants such as the aguacatillo and cinnamon tree. Lauraceae is of great interest, in part, because this family is widespread throughout Chocó forests from 1000 to 2500 meters above sea level. This abundant family is critical to many species of birds and mammals.

Lauraceae research was planned for the northwestern Ecuadorian forests, primarily in the Andean Chocó provinces of Imbabura and Pichincha. Uniquely situated for scientific study, two biodiversity hotspots overlap in this area: the Tumbes-Chocó-Magdalena and the Tropical Andes. To a lesser extent, this research is also carried out in the forests of Esmeraldas.

Wells returned to a plot in Los Cedros where Dr. Ana Mariscal surveyed plants and made important and revealing contributions twenty years ago. He collected several samples that will be confirmed in the national herbarium, where he has the support of Dr. Mariscal.

Two questions drive this research:

What species are in the Andean Chocó and at what elevation do they live?

What’s going to happen to the Lauraceae family as a result of climate change?

One outcome of this research, which aims to make identification easier, will include a Guide to the Lauraceae family specific to the Ecuadorian Andean Chocó.