- Flora of Mendoza
- Malbec
- Alfalfa (
- Altepe (
- Denmoza (
- Mendoza fauna
- Andean condor (
- Pampas vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus)
- Pichi blind pampeano (
- References
The flora and fauna of Mendoza is characterized by species such as malbec, alfalfa, the Andean condor or the vizcacha. Mendoza is the seventh largest province in Argentina, being located in the central western region of the country, in the Cuyo area. In this territory most of the grapes used in the wine industry of that nation are produced.
In this province arid and semi-arid ecosystems are located, with sub-Andean ranges, foothills and foothills. Towards the east of Mendoza there are sandy plains with saline basins, where all the rivers flow, except the Rio Grande.
Vizcacha de las Pampas. Source: Brian Gratwicke Malbec Source: Lapastoure Didier from Cazals, France
The climate is dry and sunny, with a slightly cold winter season and very hot summers. Mendoza is characterized by a great diversity in terms of flora and fauna, with species recognized as provincial natural monuments.
Flora of Mendoza
Malbec
Malbec is a variety of the purple grape that is used in the production of red wine. It is native to France, where it is known as côt. This wine variety, like all the others in its group, belongs to Vitis vinifera. In Argentina, the most valued Malbec wine comes from the high altitudes of Mendoza.
The plant is a liana with a scaly bark that can grow from 32 to 35 meters long. Its leaves are alternately arranged, with webbed lobes. The bunches they form are medium-sized, highly compact. It is also characterized by having short peduncles.
Berries or grapes are large, round, or elliptical, as well as being uniform in size. The epidermis of the fruit is thin and dark, and may be bluish black. In relation to the pulp, it is soft and juicy.
Alfalfa (
Alfalfa is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the Fabaceae family, being the second most important crop in Argentina.
It is a perennial herb, erect or suberect, which can reach a height between 30 and 60 centimeters. The leaflets are 5 to 20 millimeters long and 3 to 10 mm wide. They have an obovate shape, in addition to having a serrated apex.
The inflorescence is in the form of a pedunculated raceme, where the petiole is shorter than the peduncle. The corolla is pale violet or lavender in color, with a length between 6 and 12 millimeters.
This species is one of the most widely used forage crops in livestock rearing, because it produces high quality dry matter in large quantities.
Altepe (
Altepe is a flowering plant native to South America. This deciduous shrub, which is part of the Asteraceae family, can be up to 3 meters tall.
The branches of Proustia cuneifolia end in thorns. The leaves are alternate and petiolate. Likewise, the blade is oblong, with a slightly toothed or entire edge. The apex of this plant is sharp or rounded, ending in a point.
The inflorescence is open or racemose, with lilac-white flowers. In relation to the fruit, it is dry and indehiscent, with papus or white vilanos.
Denmoza (
This cactus is a genus belonging to the Cactaceae family, native to the Argentine provinces of San Juan, Mendoza and La Rioja.
Its growth is individual, thus counting on cylindrical stems that could reach a height of up to 1.5 meters. It has about 30 ribs, characterized by being tall and wide. The first axillary buds, which are highly specialized, are confluent.
It has 8 to 10 radial spines, slightly bent and brownish red in color. The areolas from which the flowers emerge also produce long brown bristles, similar to thorns.
The flowers are tubular, in shades of scarlet. As for the fruits, they are spherical in shape, containing shiny seeds 1.3 millimeters in diameter.
Mendoza fauna
Andean condor (
This bird, belonging to the Cathartidae family, lives in South America. It is distributed in the Andes mountain range, in addition to being on the coasts near the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The Vultur gryphus is considered a natural monument in the Argentine province of Mendoza.
The adult of this species is up to 142 centimeters tall and between 270 and 330 centimeters in wingspan. The male weighs 11-15 kilograms. However, the female is smaller, weighing 8-11 kilograms.
The plumage in the young is brown. After successive molts it reaches the characteristic jet-black color of the adult. However, on the back of the wings it has a wide white band. Also, around the neck it has a white collar, which is not completely closed in front.
The head is bare, and may be reddish in color. Males have a crest and folds on the neck and on the face.
The condor's diet is based on dead animals. When it locates the carrion, the bird does not descend to eat immediately, but flies over it or perches in a place from where it can be seen. Consequently, the Andean condor could spend up to two days before consuming this prey.
Pampas vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus)
The pampas vizcacha is a rodent that is part of the Chinchillidae family. It is a South American species that lives in Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina, located from the center to the north of Patagonia.
In the adult state, the male can weigh from 4.5 to 7.5 kilograms, unlike the female who weighs between 2.5 and 4.2 kilograms. Its head is large, with small ears. In addition, it has a thick, flat snout on the front, where there are long, silky bumps.
Its fur is gray in the dorsal area, in contrast to the white of the ventral region. On the face it has two black stripes. In relation to their limbs, they are short, with strong fingers that, together with their nails, they use to dig their burrow.
The tail has the peculiarity that it can be easily detached. This helps the pampas vizcacha avoid being captured by its predators. It is a nocturnal animal, which usually lives in tunnels. Its diet is based on all types of vegetables, consequently, it could attack the crops surrounding its habitat.
Pichi blind pampeano (
This armadillo is a cingulate mammal, a member of the Dasypodidae family. It lives in the central area of Argentina, thus living in sandy plains with cacti and in hard grasses. The Chlamyphorus truncatus is considered a natural monument in the Argentine province of Mendoza.
The size of this species is between 12.5 and 15 centimeters, with a tail of approximately 2.5 centimeters. As an adult, it can weigh around 90 grams. Its coloration is pale pink, in contrast to the hairs on its belly that are white.
Unlike the rest of the armadillos, it does not have back or front shields, but a single shell. It has flexible nested plates, made up of 24 or 25 bands arranged transversely. These structures are found attached to the body only in the head, in the dorsal line and in the pelvis.
Beneath these plates is a soft, long, white fur. In addition to this shell, the Pampean blind pichi has another, which protects the rear region of the animal. From this comes a rigid tail, covered by sheets.
It is a nocturnal animal that feeds mainly on ants and their larvae, although it could also eat worm snails and some plants.
References
- Wikipedia (2019). Mendoza, Province. Recovered from en.wikipwdia.org.
- Encyclopedia britannica (2019). Mendoza, Province. Recovered from britannica.com.
- Eduardo Mendez (2005). Flora and vegetation of the urban center of Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza (Argentina). Recovered from bdigital.uncu.edu.ar.
- Florencia Martínez del Río (2016). The ecological role of the autochthonous flora of Mendoza. Recovered from unidiversidad.com.ar.
- Wikipedia (2019). Native flora of Mendoza. Recovered from es.wikipedia.org.
- Roig, Fidel, Martínez Carretero, Eduardo. (1998). The Puna vegetation in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. ResearchGate. Recovered from researchgate.net.