Selected Plants of the Galápagos Islands

The fifty or so plants discussed in this post are some of plants we saw on a seven day trip to the Galápagos in late December 2011 and early January 2012. We were on a tour sponsored by Ecuador Adventure. The itinerary of our trip was:

• two nights in Quito (capital of Ecuador); our thoughts on Quito are discussed in this post.
• two nights in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal Island)
• two nights in Puerto Villamil (Isabela Island)
• two nights in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island).
• two nights in Quito

Side Note: If you are interested in a trip to the Galápagos or other parts of Ecuador, we highly recommend working with Columbus Travel (Ecuador). The support we had through the agent we worked with (Christian) was first class. Everyone on our tour used different travel agents that connect travelers up with the folks at Ecuador Adventure. Comparing notes with our fellow travelers, we found that as our travel agent, Columbus Travel, was heads above the other agencies. We had all the information we needed to know what we were doing and when. On the ground in Ecuador, Columbus Travel arranged a driver to take us back and forth to the airport, which was much appreciated. They also hooked us up with a very nice hotel in Quito, La Casona de la Ronda. In general, we recommend you work these folks!

Back to the plants. By the nature of the tour, the plants shown here are easily viewed in the areas to which most tourists to the islands have ready access. Out of respect for the environment we didn’t go off any marked trails or wander too far from the eyes of our guides. Many plants, especially introduced ones, can be seen on more that one island. Others, in particular endemics, are found only on one island. In another post we discussed references we used to help make our identifications. Furthermore, we solicited input from the Charles Darwin Foundation on some plants we could not identify and they were very helpful. Consider a donation to them continue their work in the islands.

References used below:

• [cdf] = Charles Darwin Foundation Galápagos Species Checklist
  [Bungartz, F., Herrera, H.W., Jaramillo, P., Tirado, N., Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G., Ruiz, D., Guézou, A. & Ziemmeck, F. (eds.) (2009). Charles Darwin Foundation Galapagos Species Checklist - Lista de Especies de Galápagos de la Fundación Charles Darwin. Charles Darwin Foundation / Fundación Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora, Galapagos: .]
• [CRC] = CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names
• [dg] = Dave’s Garden, Botanary
• [ckm] = Flowering Plants of the Galápagos by Conley K. McMullen, see this post for more information. This is a good reference for common names.
• [ref] = general reference

For many of the plants, we call out the etymologies of the binomial names that we find interesting. Any errors are our own. Where we are out on a limb (ha!) or making an educated guess we use the weasel words “likely”, “probably”, “possibly”, or we turn a statement into a question.

Common Name	Matazarno
Local Name	Matazarno
Binomial Name	Piscidia carthagenensis
Family	Fabaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Latin piscis for “fish” and caedo “to kill, destroy or cut down, slaughter” referring to the roots that yield a fish poison. [CRC]
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, near the National Park Interpretation Center, San Cristóbal Island. Photo 2: Trail to Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz Island.

Piscidia carthagenensis (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Common Name	Galápagos Cotton
Local Name	Algodón
Binomial Name	Gossypium darwinii
Family	Malvaceae
Notes	Generic name is from ?
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1: San Cristóbal Photo 2: Santa Cruz

Gossypium darwinii (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Common Name	Scalesia Helleri
Local Name	bonsai de Galápagos
Binomial Name	Scalesia helleri
Family	Asteraceae
Notes	For more on the generic name, see Binomen Art - Scalesia.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Puerto Ayora town center, Santa Cruz.

Scalesia helleri

Common Name	Waltheria
Local Name
Binomial Name	Waltheria ovata
Family	Malvaceae
Notes	Generic name after German botanist, Augustin Friedrich Walther (1688 - 1746).
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, near the Interpretation Center, San Cristóbal. Photo 2: Tortuga Bay Trail, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz.

Waltheria ovata (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Common Name	Yellow Cordia
Local Name	Muyuyu
Binomial Name	Cordia lutea
Family	Boraginaceae
Notes	Widespread.
Status	Native [cdf].
Location	Photo 1, 2, 3: Puerto Villamil, Isabela. Photo 4: Tortuga Bay Trail, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz.

Cordia lutea (photo 1, 2)
Cordia lutea (photo 3 left, photo 4 right)

Common Name	Darwin’s Daisy
Local Name	Lecocarpus de Darwin
Binomial Name	Lecocarpus darwinii
Family	Asteraceae
Notes	Similar to L. pinnatifidus (Floreana Daisy) but found only on San Cristóbal.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: San Cristóbal, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Lecocarpus darwinii

Common Name	Poison Apple
Local Name	Manchineel, manzanillo
Binomial Name	Hippomane mancinella
Family	Euphorbiaceae
Notes	Generic name has origins in both Greek and Latin words having to do an herb that drives horses mad, poisons the, or brings them in-heat. The specific epithet is a latinized form of manzanilla, the diminutive of manzana (the Spanish name for apple). [dg]
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Tortoise breeding center, Puerto Villamil, Santa Cruz.

Hippomane mancinella

Common Name	White-haired Tournefortia
Local Name	Lengua de Ternera (“Calf’s tongue”)
Binomial Name	Tournefortia pubescens
Family	Boraginaceae
Notes	Generic name after French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656 - 1708). [CRC]
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal

Tournefortia pubescens

Common Name	Red-haired Tournefortia
Local Name	Palito Negro
Binomial Name	Tournefortia rufo-sericea
Family	Boraginaceae
Notes	Generic name after French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656 - 1708). [CRC]
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Sierra Negra Trail, Isabela Island.

Tournefortia rufo-sericea

Common Name	Glorybower
Local Name
Binomial Name	Clerodendrum molle var. molle
Family	Verbenaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Greek kleros “chance, lot, fate” and dendron “tree” and probably referring to the doubtful and variable medicinal properties in some species. The specific epithet, molle, means soft.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo: Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island near the tortoise breeding center.

Clerodendrum molle var. molle

Common Name	Beach Morning Glory, Goat’s Foot
Local Name	Bejuca de Arena, Flor de Mañana
Binomial Name	Ipomoea pes-caprae
Family	Convolvulaceae
Notes	Generic name from Greek ips, pios “bindweed, or a kind of worm or beetle that eats vines” and homoios, homios “resembling, similar to,” referring to the habit, or to long trailing stems or to similarities this genus has with Convolvus. [CRC] The specific epithet means “goats-foot” referring to leaf shape.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Puerto Villamil

Ipomoea pes-caprae

Common Name	Galápagos Passion Flower
Local Name	Vedoca
Binomial Name	Passiflora foetida var. galapensis
Family	Passifloraceae
Notes	Generic name from the Latin passio, inis meaning “passion” and flos, floris meaning a “flower” and referring to the flowers that symbolize the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. [CRC] The specific epithet foetida means bad-smelling; stinking.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2, 3: Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island near the Hotel Sol.

Passiflora foetida var. galapensis

Common Name	Hedgehog Gourd, Teasel Gourd, Tiger’s Egg
Local Name	Huevo de Tigre
Binomial Name	Cucumis dipsaceus
Family	Cucurbitaceae
Notes	The generic name has origins in Latin, Akkadian, Greek, and Hebrew. For example, for Latin cucumis and meris mean “cucumber” and “melon”, respectively. The specific eipthet, dipsaceus, means resembling teasel, Dipsacus.
Status	Introduced [cdf]
Location	Photo 1: Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island. Photo 2: Tortuga Bay Trail, Santa Cruz Island.

Cucumis dipsaceus (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Common Name	Galápagos Clubleaf
Local Name
Binomial Name	Nolana galapagensis
Family	Solanaceae or Nolanaceae?
Notes	Generic name from the Latin nola meaning small bell referring to the flower or leaf? [CRC] Habitats.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2, 3: Isolete Tintoreras, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island.

Nolana galapagensis

Common Name	Beach Dropseed
Local Name
Binomial Name	Sporobolus virginicus
Family	Poaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Greek spora, sporos “seed, spore” and ballo, bolis, bolos “casting” and referring to the dropping and dispersion of the seeds. [CRC] For more on Sporobolus see Binomen Art - Sporobolus virginicus.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Puerto Villamil near Hotel Sol.

Sporobolus virginicus

Common Name	Button Mangrove
Local Name	Mangle Botón
Binomial Name	Conocarpus erectus
Family	Combretaceae, “deadwood family.”
Notes	The generic name, Conocarpus, comes from the Greek konos meaning “cone” and carpos meaning “fruit” referring to the cone-shaped fruit. [CRC] For more on mangroves, see Binomen Art - Mangrove
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Puerto Villamil near Hotel Sol.

Conocarpus erectus

Common Name	White Mangrove
Local Name	Mangle Blanco
Binomial Name	Laguncularia racemosa
Family	Combretaceae, “deadwood family.”
Notes	White Mangrove’s generic name comes from the Latin laguncula meaning “small flask or bottle”. This Laguncularia racemosa fact sheet form the University of Florida states that laguncularia refers the shape of the white mangrove’s fruit and that the specific epithet, racemosa, or “cluster” refers to the growth pattern of the fruits in racemes. For more on mangroves, see Binomen Art - Mangrove
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Puerto Villamil near Hotel Sol.

Laguncularia racemosa

Common Name	Black Mangrove
Local Name	Mangle Negro
Binomial Name	Avicennia germinans
Family	Acanthaceae
Notes	The generic name honors the Persian physician Avicenna (980 - 1037). For more on mangroves, see Binomen Art - Mangrove
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2, 3: Puerto Villamil

Avicennia germinans

Common Name	Red Mangrove
Local Name	Mangle Rojo
Binomial Name	Rhizophora mangle
Notes	Generic name from the Greek rhiza “a root” and phoros “bearing, carrying” and referring to the aerial roots. [CRC] For more on mangroves, see Binomen Art - Mangrove.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island Photo 3, 4: Playa Ancha, San Cristóbal Island

Rhizophora mangle Photo 1 and 2

Rhizophora mangle Photo 3 and 4

Common Name	Inkberry, Sea Grape
Local Name
Binomial Name	Scaevola plumieri
Family	Goodeniaceae
Notes	Generic name for Roman hero C. Mucius Scaevola, whose surname means “left-handed” and referring to the left-hand twisting of the corolla. [CRC] For more, see Binomen Art - Scaevola plumieri.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Road to Wall of Tears, Isabela Island Photo 3, 4: Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz Island

Scaevola plumieri (photo 1, 2)

Scaevola plumieri (photo 3, 4)

Common Name	Gray Mat Plant
Local Name
Binomial Name	Tiquilia galapagoa
Family	Boraginaceae
Notes	Generic name from the native South American name for flower. [ref] Name does not appear in Quattrocchi / CRC.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1: Playa del Amor, Isabela. Photo 2: Playa Ancha, San Cristóbal

Tiquilia galapagoa (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Common Name	Scalesia Affinis
Local Name	lechoso de lava (fern lava), tabaquillo
Binomial Name	Scalesia affinis
Family	Asteraceae
Notes	Interestingly, Scalesia does not appear in Quattrocchi / CRC. For more on the name, see Binomen Art - Scalesia.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Pozzo Redondo, Isabela

Scalesia affinis

 

Common Name	Galápagos Tree Fern
Local Name	Helecho arbóreo
Binomial Name	Cyathea weatherbyana
Family	Cyatheaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Greek kyanthos “a cup or ladle”, kaytheion “a little cup,” in reference to the spore cases. [CRC] The specific epithet honors Charles Alfred Weatherby (1875 - 1949), botanist and associated with the American Fern Journal.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Volcan Sierra Negra trailhead

Cyathea weatherbyana

Common Name	Wild Cowpea
Local Name
Binomial Name	Vigna luteola
Family	Fabaceae
Notes	Generic name Vigna for Domenico Vigna (d 1647) a 17th century Italian botanist. [dg]. The specific epithet, luteola, is for the yellowish flower.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island.

Vigna luteola

Common Name	Fringed Orchid
Local Name
Binomial Name	Habenaria monorrhiza
Family	Orchidaceae
Notes	Generic name, Habenaria, from the Latin habena meaning rein or strap and referring to the shape of the orchid’s spur. [dg] The lip of this orchid is usually trilobed and always spurred, in some species the spur is long and strap-shaped and swollen towards the apex, or referring to the long anther canals. [CRC]
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island.

Habenaria monorrhiza

 

Common Name	Sacramento Bur
Local Name	Pegadillo
Binomial Name	Triumfetta semitriloba
Family	Tiliaceae
Notes	Generic name, Triumfetta, after Giovanni Battista Triumfetti (1658 - 1708) professor of Botany and Director of the Botanical Garden in Rome, Italy. [dg][CRC] The specific epithet, semitriloba, derives from the Greek semi menaning “half” and triloba meaning “three-lobed” referring to the leaves as almost having three lobes? [dg]
Status	Native or introduced. [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island.

Triumfetta semitriloba

  

Common Name	Yellow Star-Grass
Local Name
Binomial Name	Hypoxis decumbens
Family	Hypoxidaceae
Notes	The generic name, Hypoxis, from the Greek hypo, (beneath) and oxys, (sharp); referring to the base of the capsule. [ref] The specific epithet, decumbens, means creeping with ends upright. [ref]
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island.

Hypoxis decumbens

Common Name	Germander
Local Name	Laurel
Binomial Name	Teucrium vesicarium
Family	Lamiaceae
Notes	Generic name possibly for the Greek teukrion for Teucer (Teukros) the founder of the town in Salamis in Cyprus; Latin teucrion for a plant, the germander. [CRC] The specific epithet, vesicarium, mean “with a bladder” - but, referring to what part of the plant? [dg]
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island.

Teucrium vesicarium
 

Common Name	Cat's Claw, Wait-a-Minute-Bush
Local Name	Uña de gato
Binomial Name	Zanthoxylum fagara
Family	Rutaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Greek xanthos “yellow” and xylon “wood” referring to the yellow die sometimes contained in the roots of some species. [CRC]
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo: Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz.

Zanthoxylum fagara

Common Name	Lance-leafed Darwin’s Shrub
Local Name
Binomial Name	Darwiniothamnus lancifolious
Family	Asteraceae
Notes	The generic name means “Darwin’s shrub” from the Greek thamnos for bush. The specific epithet, lancifolius, refers to the lance-shaped leaves.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island.

Darwiniothamnus lancifolious

Common Name	Thin-leafed Darwin Bush
Local Name
Binomial Name	Darwiniothamnus tenuifolius
Family	Asteraceae
Notes	The generic names means “Darwin’s shrub” from the Greek thamnos for bush. The specific epithet, tenuifolius, refers to the slender-shaped leaves.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Photo Location	Photo 1: Ranchas Primicias, Santa Cruz Island. Photo 2, 3, 4: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island.

Darwiniothamnus tenuifolius (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Darwiniothamnus tenuifolius (photo 3 left, photo 4 right)
Darwiniothamnus tenuifolius (photo 5)

Common Name	Narrow-leafed Lippia
Local Name	Lippia
Binomial Name	Lippia rosmarinifolia
Family	Verbenaceae
Notes	Generic name honors Augusto (Augustin) Lippi, 17th century Italian naturalist. [dg] The specific epithet refers to the foliage resembling rosemary. [dg]
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island. Near Volcan Chico Photo 2: Muro de las Lagrimas, Isabela Island.

Lippia rosmarinifolia (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Common Name	Soapberry, False Dogwood
Local Name	El Jaboncillo
Binomial Name	Sapindus saponaria
Family	Sapindaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Latin sapo, saponis meaning “soap” and indicus meaning “Indian, or India”. [ckm] Saponins used as an emulsifier and cleanser.
Status	Introduced, escaped [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island. Near Volcan Chico.

Sapindus saponaria

Common Name	Scalesia pedunculata
Local Name
Binomial Name	Scalesia pedunculata var. pedunculata
Family	Asteraceae
Notes	For more on the generic name, see Binomen Art - Scalesia. The secific epithet, pedunculata, likely refers to the fact that the flowers are held out on longer peduncles - the stalks that bear the flowers.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2, 3, 4: Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz Island. Photo 5: Ranchas Primicias, Santa Cruz Island.

Scalesia pedunculata (photo 1, photo 2 – toppled Scalesia)
Scalesia pedunculata (photo 3, 4)
Scalesia pedunculata (photo 5)

Common Name	Scalesia cordata
Local Name
Binomial Name	Scalesia cordata
Family	Asteraceae
Notes	For more on the generic name, see Binomen Art - Scalesia. The specific epithet refers to the “heart-shaped” leaves.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Campo Duro, Isabela Island.

Scalesia cordata

Common Name	Galápagos Peperomia
Local Name	Congona
Binomial Name	Peperomia galapagensis var. galapagensis
Family	Perperomiaceaea
Notes	Generic name from the Greek peperi meaning “pepper” and homoios, homios meaning “resembling”. [dg]
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz Island.

Peperomia galapagensis var. galapagensis

Common Name	Galápagos Guava
Local Name	Guayabilla
Binomial Name	Psidium galapageium var. galapageium
Family	Myrtaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Latin psidium, from the Greek sidion, from side, sida, sibde or “pomegranate”. [CRC] The specific epithet, galapageium, refers to the fact that this is the endemic guava.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz Island.

Psidium galapageium var. galapageium

Common Name	Milkberry
Local Name	Espuela de Gallo, Chiococca
Binomial Name	Chiococca alba
Family	Rubiaceae
Notes	White berries -> Chion + cocca.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz Island.

Chiococca alba

Common Name	Galápagos Orchid
Local Name
Binomial Name	Epidendrum spicatum
Family	Orchidaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Greek epi “upon, above, on top” and dendron “a tree” referring to the ephiphytic habit of these plants that grow on trees. [CRC] The specific epithet, spicatum, means “grow ears (like corn), in spikes” [dg] - possibly referring to growth habit of the leaves or flower spike.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz

Epidendrum spicatum

Common Name	Chaff flower
Local Name	alternantera del este
Binomial Name	Alternanthera flavicoma
Family	Amaranthacea
Notes	Generic name refers to alternating anthers being fertile and sterile, whereas in most species, alternate anthers are barren. [CRC]
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno waterfront, San Cristóbal.

Alternanthera flavicoma

Common Name	Indefatigable Passion Flower
Local Name	Granadilla silvestre
Binomial Name	Passiflora colinvauxii
Family	Passifloraceae
Notes	Generic name from the Latin passio, inis meaning “passion” and flos, floris meaning a “flower” and referring to the flowers that symbolize the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. [CRC] The specific epithet, colinvauxii, after Paul Colinvaux who discovered the vine.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz

Passiflora colinvauxii

Common Name	Mormordica, Balsam Pear, Bitter Gourd
Local Name	Achojcha China
Binomial Name	Momordica charantia
Family	Cucurbitaceae - cucumber/melon family
Notes	Generic name from the Latin mordeo, momordi, morsum, mordere “to bite” referring to the jagged and chewed appearance of the seeds because the seeds appear if they have been bitten. [CRC]
Status	Introduced, escaped [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Rancho Primicias, Santa Cruz

Momordica charantia

Common Name	Common Coral Bean
Local Name	Porotillo
Binomial Name	Erythrina spp. possibly corallodendron
Family	Fabaceae
Notes	The generic name from the Greek erythros “red” and anthos “flower”. [CRC]
Status	Introduced/cultivated [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2, 3: Rancho Primicias, Santa Cruz

Erythrina spp. 

Common Name	Spanish Cedar, Cuban Cedar
Local Name	Cedrela, cedro cubano
Binomial Name	Cedrela odorata
Family	Meliaceae
Notes	The generic name from the Spanish cedrelo, diminuitive of the Latin cedrus,i “the cedar, Juniperus oxycedrus L. (Plinius)” and Greek kedros “cedar, cedar-tree, prickly cedar, Syrian cedar, Phoenician cedar, Himalayan cedar, juniper”. [CRC] The specific epithet due to the heartwood being aromatic and resembling the aroma of true cedar.
Status	Introduced, pest [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Rancho Primicias, Santa Cruz

Cedrela odorata

Common Name	Coffee Senna
Local Name	Senna Café
Binomial Name	Senna occidentalis
Family	Fabaceae (Caesalpiniodeae)
Notes	The generic name comes from the Arabic sana or sanna. [CRC]
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz

Senna occidentalis

Common Name	Flat-Fruited Senna
Local Name	Senna, Caccia-picta
Binomial Name	Senna pistaciifolia
Family	Fabaceae (Caesalpiniodeae)
Notes	The generic name comes from the Arabic sana or sanna. [CRC]
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2, 3: Rancho Primicias, Santa Cruz Island.

Senna pistaciifolia

Common Name	Candle Senna
Local Name	Palo de Abejón
Binomial Name	Senna alata
Family	Fabaceae (Caesalpiniodeae)
Notes	The generic name comes from the Arabic sana or sanna. [CRC] The specific epithet, alata, means “winged” - possibly referring to dried fruits.
Status	Escaped [cdf]
Location	Photo: Rancho Primicias, Santa Cruz Island.

Senna alata

Common Name	Chaff Flower
Local Name	Escansel
Binomial Name	Alternanthera mexicana
Family	Amaranthaceae
Notes	Generic name refers to alternating anthers being fertile and sterile, whereas in most species, alternate anthers are barren. [CRC]
Status	Questionable Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Sierra Negra Trail, Isabela Island

Alternanthera mexicana

Common Name	Common Guava
Local Name	Gauyabo, guayaba
Binomial Name	Psidium guajava
Family	Myrtaceae - the myrtle family.
Notes	Generic name from the Latin psidium, from the Greek sidion, from side, sida, sibde or “pomegranate”. [CRC] But why? The specific epithet, guajava, derived from Spanish name for this fruit, guayaba.
Status	Introduced, pest [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2, 3: Rancho Primicias, Santa Cruz

Psidium guajava

Common Name	Galápagos Tomato
Local Name	Tomatillo
Binomial Name	Lycopersicon cheesmanii (ae) Solanum cheesmaniae
Family	Solanaceae - Nightshade family.
Notes	The generic name Lycopersicon from the Greek lykopersion for an Egyptian plant with a strong-smelling yellowish juice, some suggest from the Greek lykos “a wolf” and persikon “a peach”, possibly referring to the poisonous or toxic properties. [CRC] The generic name Solanum from the Latin solanum, a plant name used probably for Solanum nigrum, solanum applied by Plinius to a plant, also called strychnos, nightshade, from the Latin sol, solis “sun”, the plants of the sun. For other possible origins, see page 2504 of Volume IV. [CRC] The specific epithet, cheesmanii (masculine) was corrected to cheesmaniae (feminine). The person who named this species thought the collector was a man when in fact it was a woman, Lucy Evelyn Cheesman. The story is discussed in the very interesting book, Dry Storeroom #1 by Richard Fortey.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Path to Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz

Solanum cheesmaniae

Common Name	Leatherleaf
Local Name	Guide called it arrayán, others say arrayáncillo. Also called Rompe Ollas or “pot-breaker” because it produces a a lot of heat when burned and tends to break clay cooking pots unless used with care.
Binomial Name	Maytenus octogona
Family	Celastraceae - Staff-tree family.
Notes	Generic names from the Chilean (Araucan) maiten, mayten, or mayton for the type species Maytenus boaria.
Status	Native [cdf]
Location	Photo 1: Path to Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Photo 2: Trail to Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz Island.

Maytenus octogona (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Common Name	Moon Flower
Local Name
Binomial Name	Ipomoea alba
Family	Convolvulaceae
Notes	Generic name from Greek ips, pios “bindweed, or a kind of worm or beetle that eats vines” and homoios, homios “resembling, similar to,” referring to the habit, or to long trailing stems or to similarities this genus has with Convolvus. [CRC]
Status	Questionable Native [cdf]
Location	Photo: Sierra Negra Trail, Isabela Island.

Ipomoea alba

Common Name	Galápagos Mistletoe, Foradendron
Local Name	Suelda con suelda
Binomial Name	Phoradendron henslowii
Family	Viscaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Greek phoros “bearing, carrying,” phero, phoreo “to bear” and dendron “tree. [CRC] P. henslowii is a woody hemi-parasitic shrubs with branches which grows on trees.
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo: Sierra Negra Trail, Isabela Island, Near Volcan Chico.

Phoradendron henslowii

Common Name	Needle-Leaf Laricifolia
Local Name	Romerillo
Binomial Name	Macraea lanricifolia
Family	Asteraceae
Notes	Generic name from the Greek makros “long”. [CRC].
Status	Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1, 2: Sierra Negra Trail, Isabela Island. Near Volcan Chico

Macraea lacidfolia

Common Name	Thorn Shrub
Local Name	Espino
Binomial Name	Scutia spicata (syn. Scutia paucifolia)
Family	Rhamnaceae
Notes	Generic name from Latin scutum, i “a shield” referring to the form of the disk. [CRC] What part of the plant, the leaves? Species epithet spicata meaning “with spikes”.
Status	Questional Endemic [cdf]
Location	Photo 1: Trail to Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz Island. Photo 2: Playa Ancha, San Cristóbal Island.

Scutia spicata (photo 1 left, photo 2 right)

Common Name	Brazilian Tea, False Vervain
Local Name	Espino
Binomial Name	Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Family	Verbanaceae
Notes	Generic name from the Greek stachys “spike” and tarphys “thick”, tarpheios “dense” referring to the flower spikes and closely packed flowers. Species epithet cayennensis means “of or from Cayenne, French Guinea”.
Status	Questional Accidental [cdf]
Location	Photo: Sierra Negra trail, Isabela Island.

Stachytarpheta cayennensis