Schinopsis
Encyclopedia
Schinopsis is a genus
of South America
n tree
s in the family Anacardiaceae
. The species
within this genus inhabit different regions of the Gran Chaco
ecoregion including parts of northern Argentina
, Bolivia
, and Paraguay
.
Their common name is quebracho, from Spanish
quiebra-hacha ("axe
-breaker") in recognition of the hardness of their wood
, or more precisely quebracho colorado ("red quebracho"), to distinguish them from the "white quebracho" trees
of the quite unrelated genus Aspidosperma
.
Schinopsis is the exclusive food plant of the moth
Coleophora haywardi
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s in the family Anacardiaceae
Anacardiaceae
Anacardiaceae are a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes and in some cases producing urushiol, an irritant. Anacardiaceae include numerous genera with several of economic importance. Notable plants in this family include cashew , mango, poison ivy, sumac, smoke tree, and marula...
. The species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
within this genus inhabit different regions of the Gran Chaco
Gran Chaco
The Gran Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semi-arid lowland region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it is connected with the Pantanal region...
ecoregion including parts of northern Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, and Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
.
Their common name is quebracho, from Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
quiebra-hacha ("axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
-breaker") in recognition of the hardness of their wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
, or more precisely quebracho colorado ("red quebracho"), to distinguish them from the "white quebracho" trees
Quebracho tree
Quebracho is a common name in Spanish to describe very hard wood tree species. The etymology of the name derived from quiebrahacha, or quebrar hacha, meaning "axe-breaker".-Species:...
of the quite unrelated genus Aspidosperma
Aspidosperma
Aspidosperma is a genus of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae.Species include:*Aspidosperma curranii*Aspidosperma cylindrocarpon*Aspidosperma darienense*Aspidosperma dasycarpon*Aspidosperma discolor...
.
- Schinopsis balansaeSchinopsis balansaeSchinopsis balansae is a hardwood tree which forms forests in the subtropical Gran Chaco ecoregion of north-eastern Argentina, and Paraguay. It is also found in the wild Pantanal vegetation in Brazil. Some of its common names are quebracho colorado chaqueño and quebracho santafesino...
(common name: quebracho colorado chaqueñoChaco ProvinceChaco is an Argentine province located in the north of the country, near the border with Paraguay. Its capital is Resistencia on the Paraná River opposite the city of Corrientes...
) - Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl.
- Schinopsis haenkeanaSchinopsis haenkeanaSchinopsis haenkeana is a species of plant in the Anacardiaceae family. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia. Its vernacular names include Quebracho blanco, horco quebracho.-Source:...
- Schinopsis heterophyllaSchinopsis heterophyllaSchinopsis heterophylla, the Quebracho colorado mestizo, is a South American tree species in the genus Schinopsis.Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America for people of mixed European and Amerindian heritage or descent....
((common name: Quebracho colorado mestizo) - S. lorentziiSchinopsis lorentziiSchinopsis lorentzii is a hardwood tree, native of the Paraguayan subtropical area, which forms forests in Gran Chaco region of Argentina, in Paraguay, and Bolivia. Some of its common names are coronillo, quebracho Cornillo , quebracho chaqueño, quebracho colorado santiagueño, quebracho macho, and...
, synonym S. quebracho-colorado (common name: quebracho colorado santiagueñoSantiago del Estero ProvinceSantiago del Estero is a province of Argentina, located in the north of the country. Neighbouring provinces are from the north clockwise Salta, Chaco, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Catamarca and Tucumán.-History:...
) - Schinopsis marginata Engl.
Schinopsis is the exclusive food plant of the moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
Coleophora haywardi
Coleophora haywardi
Coleophora haywardi is a moth of the Coleophoridae family. It is known from South America, including Argentina.Schinopsis is the exclusive food plant of the moth larvae....
.