Thecaatingais a Brazilian biome and has traits that contribute to the biodiversity of plant and animal species.
It’s positioned primarily within the Northeastern states of Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe and Bahia. As well as, it additionally covers a part of the state of Minas Gerais, making the Caatinga a biome that’s current in 11% of the Brazilian territory, however thought of the least explored Brazilian biome and consequently, the least recognized.
The vegetation of the Caatinga is taken into account by many to be just like that of a desert, because the dry local weather and low vegetation make it inconceivable to plant many plant species.
Traits of the Caatinga flora
The primary attribute of the Caatinga flora is the survival circumstances of those crops, that are topic to a dry local weather with little water.
Even underneath these circumstances, the caatinga is an appropriate place for the expansion and improvement of a number of species of crops.
Try different typical traits of the Caatinga flora:
- The bark of the timber is thick;
- The stems of the timber have thorns;
- The leaves are small;
- The roots are tuberous to retailer water.
Basically, the Caatinga vegetation is made up of three teams, specifically:
- Arboreal: represents timber which might be 8 to 12 meters tall;
- Shrubby: represents vegetation that’s 2 to five meters excessive;
- Herbaceous: represents vegetation that’s lower than 2 meters tall.
In accordance with the Ministry of the Setting, round 900 species of crops make up the caatinga biome, with bromeliads and cacti being the most typical.
Nevertheless, it’s estimated that there’s a a lot bigger variety of plant and animal species that haven’t but been catalogued.
You may additionally be thinking about:
Record of Caatinga crops
Uncover 25 species of cropsdiscovered within the Caatingabeneath .
- Angico (Anadenanthera colubrina)
Angico is a tree well-known for its white flowers that normally appeal to honey bees.
Quite common in numerous Brazilian biomes, particularly in Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, Angico is characterised by speedy development.
It’s a tree with a strong trunk that produces a excessive amount of tannin, a substance that forestalls the assault of microorganisms that may trigger illnesses.
The bark of the angico trunk additionally has medicinal properties, being indicated to scale back bleeding, fight diarrhea and assist with pores and skin therapeutic.
- Purple pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi)
The crimson pepper tree is a species native to Brazil. Also referred to as pink pepper, it is rather frequent within the Caatinga, however may also be present in different Brazilian biomes .
It has a trunk that may attain as much as 80 cm in diameter, is darkish brown in colour and produces wooden that’s immune to deterioration, because it produces substances with fungicidal and insecticidal motion.
As a result of it’s broadly exploited, it’s thought of a species within the weak class on the record of Brazilian flora species which might be threatened with extinction.
- Barriguda (Ceiba glaziovii)
The barriguda is a tree usually discovered within the Caatinga, particularly as a consequence of its potential to withstand drought, because it has the facility to soak up water inside.
Its stem can attain as much as 1 meter in diameter, has a lot of thorns and its wooden is taken into account comfortable, mild and has little sturdiness.
It’s also often known as kapok, because the seeds are wrapped within the kapok, launched after it breaks and is carried by the wind.
- Bromeliad (Bromeliaceae)
Bromeliads are crops that belong to the Bromeliaceae household, which has many species. The preferred species of bromeliad is the pineapple, which is shaped from the union of a number of flowers.
One of many traits of bromeliads is their leaves, that are usually lengthy, slender, curved and organized in round layers.
As a result of formation of the leaves, they’ve an awesome capability to retailer water, which is consumed by completely different species of animals.
- Cactus (Cactaceae)
Cacti are quite common in dry and sizzling environments, as a consequence of their excessive capability to build up water, which is why they’re so frequent within the Caatinga. There are a selection of species, a few of which may attain as much as 18 m in peak.
They’ve a succulent stem, a cylindrical form and lots of thorns, that are nothing greater than leaves which have undergone transformations to adapt to the setting.
- Carnauba (Copernicia prunifera)
The carnauba palm tree is quite common within the Northeast area and its most important attribute is its peak, which may attain 15 m.
The stem is straight and cylindrical, with a diameter that may fluctuate between 10 and 20 cm and has thorns on the decrease half.
Its leaves are inexperienced and, because of the wax they produce, they will have bluish tones. The wax produced on the leaves is a safety towards water loss, and can be used within the trade of assorted merchandise and cosmetics, similar to soaps and lipsticks.
- Caroá (Neoglasiovia variegata)
Caroá is a sort of bromeliad typical of the Caatinga and is often known as gravata, caruá and coroatá.
With few leaves, all the time in reddish or pinkish tones, it produces fibers used within the manufacturing of handcrafted and ornamental items, in addition to materials, string and fishing line.
Revealed research point out the manufacturing of flavonoids that may assist fight irritation, ache and gastric ulcers.
- Catingueira (Caesalpinia pyramidalis)
The catingueira is a species of tree broadly distributed all through the Caatinga that has the power to regrow even after being reduce down. It’s thought of an indicator of the approaching wet season, as its buds sprout after they really feel humidity.
Catingueiras normally measure between 4 and eight m in peak, the stem can attain as much as 50 cm in diameter, so long as the foundation is in humid floodplains.
In dry climates, the catingueira presents differentiated improvement, with bushes smaller than 2 m and stems with small diameters.
- Basking Crown (Melocactus bahiensis)
The Coroa-de-frade is a species of cactus typical of the Caatinga that has a rounded, small and flat form, reaching a most peak of 12 cm.
It is filled with thorns that fluctuate in thickness and dimension, in addition to having flowers in shades of pink and crimson, thus attracting many bees.
It receives this identify as a result of in its grownup section it presents a cephalium, which may be very comparable, visually, to a crown and a bald head, thus making reference to a Franciscan friar.
- Cumaru (Amburana cearensis)
The cumaru tree is typical of the Caatinga and might attain 20 m in peak. It has a trunk with reddish bark that peels off in skinny layers. It has pod-like fruits with a single oily seed.
Its bark and seeds are recognized for his or her medicinal makes use of and may also help deal with respiratory issues.
- Pilosocereuspachycladus
The facheiro is a species of huge cactus, which may attain as much as 10 m in peak.
It’s a very nutritionally wealthy plant, containing protein, fiber, tannin and starch, so when younger it serves as meals for animals because it doesn’t but have thorns.
In its grownup section, the facheiro has a trunk and branches that fluctuate from brown to darkish inexperienced tones and its spines turn out to be sharp and yellowish.
- Faveleira (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus)
The faveleira is a plant endemic to the Caatinga recognized for its medicinal potential, particularly in serving to to heal wounds. It’s simply present in rocky outcrops and locations with shallow soil.
Very talked-about within the Northeastern states, the fruit of the faveleira is used as a toy by youngsters, the seeds are a part of the eating regimen of assorted birds and for human consumption as flour.
In latest research, the faveleira seed has been used within the extraction of oil for the manufacturing of biofuels, medicinal extracts and the restoration of degraded areas.
- Jitirana flower
The jitirana flower is a typical species of the Caatinga that stands out for its excessive capability for resistance to weather conditions and its energy of adaptability to the setting.
A climbing plant, the jitirana is succulent and has a pleasing odor, and may be very well-liked with animals. It’s also consumed by people, utilizing its leaves for tea, which is believed to assist with dermatitis and rheumatism.
It’s simply discovered rising in bushes and fences, and is taken into account by some to be a weed, and might even trigger injury in agricultural areas.
- Purple Ipe (Tabebuia impetiginosa Mart)
The purple ipê is a tree that’s a part of the northeastern panorama. It has a straight and fissured trunk, and its flowers are organized on a single department, forming a bouquet.
The seeds are mild and simply unfold by the wind. The wooden is heavy, arduous and resistant, but versatile, and is broadly used within the building of furnishings and musical devices.
In people medication, components of the ipê tree are used to assist fight fever, dysentery, ulcers, rheumatism and venereal illnesses. As well as, its bark has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and therapeutic properties.
- Jericho (Selaginella convoluta Sprig)
The jericó is a species typical of the Caatinga and might usually seem like useless, because it spends a lot of the 12 months with dry leaves. When the wet season begins, it is likely one of the first crops to indicate indicators of response, returning to its inexperienced colour.
This species can be popularly recognized for its medicinal energy, getting used within the type of tea to fight flu and belly ache.
- Juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro)
The juazeiro is a tree with a thorny trunk, round 60 cm in diameter and might measure 10 meters in peak.
One in all its most important traits is its potential to outlive the Caatinga local weather, particularly as a consequence of its desire for alluvial clayey soils, that’s, soils that current deposition of sediments which might be transported by rivers.
It has deep roots that assist seize water from underground, permitting it to all the time have inexperienced leaves.
- White Jurema (Piptadenia stipulacea)
The white jurema is a well-liked species within the Caatinga and is often known as caracara, jurema, raspa-beiço and saia-velha.
Endemic to the Caatinga, the white jurema is usually discovered on the facet of roads, because it behaves like an invasive species, thus supporting dry land.
The wooden of the white jurema is utilized in small constructions, for making stakes and in addition to be used as firewood and charcoal. Throughout the dry season, the leaves and chips of the trunk that fall to the bottom turn out to be meals for ruminants.
- Malice (Mimosa quadrivalvis L.)
Malicia is a species of herbaceous plant quite common within the Caatinga, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest . With branches and fruits lined in small thorns, the aculeus, malícia is well present in open areas.
The area’s native bees are interested in the pollen and nectar expelled by its flowers.
- White mallow (Sida cordifolia L)
White mallow is a species simply discovered within the Caatinga, and may also be seen within the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Amazon biomes .
It’s a sort of shrub that grows in sandy soils and has yellow and orange flowers. The pollen and nectar are engaging to bees and for honey manufacturing, and is broadly utilized in honey gardens.
- Mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru)
The mandacaru is a species of cactus endemic to Brazil and quite common in locations with climates such because the Caatinga. Its form resembles a candelabra and might measure as much as 6 meters in peak.
It’s a plant stuffed with thorns, with an awesome capability to retain water and is broadly used as a pure fence. As well as, its fruits and flowers function meals for birds and bees.
- Palm (Opuntia cochenillifera)
The palm is a sort of cactus native to Mexico and widespread within the Brazilian Northeast, often known as urumbeta, cochineal cactus, candy palm, thornless cactus, amongst different names.
It has a cylindrical stem and its branches are palms, that are flat, fleshy and oval in form.
Its use may be very broad, and might be consumed in human and livestock meals, as a landscaping component and for the manufacturing of pure dye.
- Quixaba (Sideroxylon Obtusifolium)
The quixaba tree is thought for its medicinal energy, particularly for the therapy of kidney-related illnesses and diabetes.
It might attain 15 meters in peak and has sturdy thorns, elongated leaves, fragrant flowers and purple fruits that may be consumed by folks.
- Thrush (Mimosa caesalpiniaefolia)
The sabiá is a tree native to the Brazilian Northeast, with data primarily within the states of Piauí, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Bahia and Ceará.
Reaching as much as 8 meters in peak, this tree has a trunk with a diameter of between 20 and 30 cm, which branches into different small trunks.
Its wooden is broadly used within the manufacturing of fence posts and for power, characterizing its potential to be used as firewood and charcoal.
- Umbu tree (Spondias tuberosa)
The umbu tree is a big tree that lives within the Caatinga. It might attain 7 meters in peak, however its trunk is brief and its crown is extensive, comparable in form to an umbrella. Its roots have an awesome capability to retailer water.
It has white flowers which might be grouped collectively, are aromatic and have a tendency to draw bees that eat their nectar to provide honey.
The fruit of the umbu tree is extremely appreciated by people as a result of it has a candy odor, nice and barely bitter style. The foundation can be consumed as meals, believed to have medicinal properties that forestall diarrhea.
- Pilocereus gounellei (Pilocereus gounellei)
The xique-xique is a species of cactus that is quite common within the Caatinga, particularly within the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia, Piauí, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe.
It normally grows in dry locations with shallow soil, particularly between rock crevices.
It has an erect trunk with lateral branches spaced other than one another and which may attain 4 meters in peak. Its thorns are sturdy and its fruit is appreciated for being wealthy in mineral salts and attractive.
Learn additionally about:
- Flora of Brazil
- Caatinga Animals
- Animals of the Atlantic Forest
- Animals of the Cerrado
- Animals of the Pantanal
- Animals of the Pampas
- Animals of the Amazon