Flora of Western South America

The tomato (US: , UK: ; Solanum lycopersicum) is a plant whose fruit is an edible berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originated from western South America, and may have been domesticated there, in Mexico, or in Central America. The Spanish introduced tomatoes to Eurasia in the Columbian exchange in the 16th century. Tomato plants are vines, largely annual, and vulnerable to frost, though sometimes living longer in greenhouses. The flowers are able to self-fertilize. Modern varieties have been

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), also known as the groundnut, goober (US, via Kikongo), goober pea, pindar (US, via Kikongo) or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown mainly for its edible seeds, contained in underground pods. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics by small and large commercial producers, both as a grain legume and as an oil crop. Underground fruiting (geocarpy) is atypical among legumes, which led botanist Carl Linnaeus to name the species hypogaea, from Greek 'under the earth'. The peanut belongs to the flowering plant family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), commonly

Tropaeolum majus, the garden nasturtium, nasturtium, Indian cress or monk's cress, is a species of flowering plant in the family Tropaeolaceae. An annual or a short-lived perennial with disc-shaped leaves and brilliant yellow, orange or red flowers, it is of cultivated, probably hybrid origin. It is not closely related to the genus Nasturtium (which includes watercress).

Scalesia is a genus in the family Asteraceae endemic to the Galapagos Islands. It contains fifteen species that grow as shrubs or trees. This is unusual, because tree species are uncommon in Asteraceae. The genus Scalesia resulted from a blunder by Arnott who named it in honour of "W. Scales Esq., Cawdor Castle, Elginshire" but discovered after publication that the name should have read 'Stables', after Scottish botanist, William Alexander Stables (1810–1890). All of the species have soft, pithy wood. Scalesia species have been called "the Darwin's finches of the plant world" because they

Dracula simia, known also as the monkey-like Dracula, is an epiphytic orchid originally described as part of the genus Masdevallia, but later reclassified as part of genus Dracula. The arrangement of column, petals and lip resembles a monkey's face. The plant blooms at any season with several flowers on the inflorescence that open successively. Flowers are fragrant with the scent of a ripe orange. The monkey orchid is native to the cloud forests of Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. Although it was first documented in Ecuador, its natural habitat extends across these three countries. Currently,

Cinchona officinalis is a South American tree in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to wet montane forests in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, between 1600–2700 meters above sea level. It is the national tree of Peru.

Calliandra haematocephala, the red powder puff, is a species of flowering plants of the genus Calliandra in the family Fabaceae native to Bolivia. In its native habitat it typically grows to about 3–4.5 m (10–15 ft) tall and is widely cultivated as an ornamental flowering shrub in warm climates, where it can grow outdoors year-round.

Mila caespitosa is a species of cacti (family Cactaceae) and the only species of the genus Mila. Its generic name is an anagram of Lima, Peru, the city near which the plant is found. The genus was first thought to comprise 13 species, until recent studies suggest they form one very variable species.

Matucana is a genus of cacti (family Cactaceae), containing approximately 20 species of mostly globular plants. The genus is known only from Peru, mostly along the Marañón River. Some species are endangered due to collection for the specialist market.

The lava cactus is a species of cactus, Brachycereus nesioticus, the sole species of the genus Brachycereus. The plant is a colonizer of lava fields – hence its common name – where it forms spiny clumps up to 60 cm (24 in) tall. Its solitary white or yellowish white flowers open in the daytime. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands.

Parajubaea torallyi, commonly known as the palma de Pasobaya or Bolivian mountain coconut, is a species of evergreen flowering plant of genus Parajubaea, in the family Arecaceae, closely related to the coconut palm in the tribe Cocoseae. It is endemic to Bolivia, where it grows in dry forests on steep rocky slopes at 2,400–3,400 metres (7,900–11,200 ft) in altitude. In its native habitat, due to high altitude, low night temperatures often drop to a range of -3C to -9C during local winter time (July, August), with considerable temperature spans between day and night and practically no

Peperomia graveolens, commonly known as Ruby Glow, is a species of plant in the genus Peperomia of the family Piperaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador.

Passiflora antioquiensis, the red banana passionfruit, is a species of flowering plant in the family Passifloraceae. It is native to Colombia and is named for the Antioquia Department in Colombia where the type specimen was collected. It was originally described by Gustav Karl Wilhelm Hermann Karsten in 1859. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. With Passiflora tripartita var. mollissima it was hybridised in the Veitch Nurseries in Exeter, England in the 1870s to yield Passiflora × exoniensis, which has also gained the Award of Garden Merit.

Cleistocactus strausii, the silver torch or wooly torch, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Cactaceae.

Tropaeolum peregrinum, the canary-creeper, canarybird flower, canarybird vine, or canary nasturtium, is a species of Tropaeolum native to western South America in Peru and possibly also Ecuador.

Pygmaeocereus is a genus of small cacti (family Cactaceae). The genus is endemic to Peru. These species generally do not reach more than 100 mm (4 in) high, and produce a large tuberous root system and scented night flowers.

Magnolia boliviana is a tree in the family Magnoliaceae native to the rainforests of the eastern Andean foothills of Bolivia.

Calymmanthium is a monotypic genus of primitive tree-like cacti from northern Peru. The only species is Calymmanthium substerile (also known as C. fertile). It belongs to the tribe Lymanbensonieae. The young flowers of Calymmanthium are completely encased within the plant's pedicel until it is fully developed, at which time the growing yellow flower swells until it cracks the pedicel open, allowing pollinators access. The plant has an upright trunk, but many of the branches sprawl on the ground. Diploperianthium F.Ritter (nom. inval.) has been brought into synonymy with this genus.

Yungasocereus is a monotypic genus of cactus containing one species, Yungasocereus inquisivensis.

Samaipaticereus corroanus is a species of cactus in the subtribe Trichocereinae, native to Bolivia and Peru. Along with Cleistocactus inquisivensis, Cleistocactus corroanus has been placed in the genus Samaipaticereus. A 2023 molecular phylogenetic study led to Cleistocactus being expanded to include Samaipaticereus, among other genera. The expansion is accepted by Plants of the World Online as of March 2025.

Salvia discolor (Andean sage) is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant, growing in a very localized area in Peru. It is equally rare in horticulture and in its native habitat. William Robinson wrote of its charms in 1933. The plant is scandent, meaning that it climbs without the use of tendrils, with wiry white stems growing from its base. Mistletoe-green leaves of various sizes grow in pairs about 1–2 in apart on the stem, with the undersides covered in white hairs. The leaves, stem and flower buds all exhibit a strong and distinct odour of blackcurrant. The 1 in long deeply saturated dark

Rauhia is a genus of bulbous, perennial plants in the family Amaryllidaceae endemic to Peru.

Phragmipedium kovachii is an orchid species found to be new to science in 2001, native to the Andean cloud forests of northern Peru. A species with terrestrial habit and growing in clumps of several individuals, it displays showy pink to purple flowers up to 20 cm (8 in) wide. It is currently considered a critically endangered species by the IUCN, due to overcollection in the wild.

Philodendron erubescens, the blushing philodendron or red-leaf philodendron, is a species of flowering plant in the family Araceae, native to Colombia. It is a robust evergreen climber growing to 3–6 m (10–20 ft), with red stems and heart-shaped leaves up to 40 cm (16 in) in length. The flowers are deep red, fragrant spathes up to 15 cm (6 in) long, in summer and autumn. The specific epithet erubescens means "blushing".

Jasminocereus (meaning "jasmine-like cereus", referring to the flowers) is a genus of cacti with only one species, Jasminocereus thouarsii, endemic to the Galápagos Islands, territorially a part of Ecuador. In English it is often called the candelabra cactus (a name used for other cacti with a similar appearance). At maturity it has a branched, treelike habit, and may be up to 7 m (23 ft) tall. The stems are made up of individual sections with constrictions between them. Its creamy white to greenish flowers open at night and are followed by greenish to reddish fruits.

Echinopsis lageniformis, synonyms including Echinopsis scopulicola and Trichocereus bridgesii, is a cactus native to Bolivia. It is known as the Bolivian torch cactus. Among the indigenous populations of Bolivia, it is sometimes called achuma or wachuma, although these names are also applied to related species such as Trichocereus macrogonus which are also used for their psychedelic effects.

Dracula vampira is an epiphytic orchid species, endemic to Ecuador.

Capsicum cardenasii is a plant species in the genus Capsicum and the family Solanaceae. It is a diploid with 2n=2x=24. It is a member within the C. pubescens complex, a group of closely related Capsicum species. It is closely related to C. eximium. It is native to the Andes, and it can be found in Bolivia and Peru. The native name is ulupica.

Aechmea biflora is a species of plant in the family Bromeliaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. The species name means "2-flowered," referring to two flowers in each fascicle.

Acca lanuginosa is a species of plant in the Myrtaceae family that is related to the much more commonly known Pineapple guava. It is endemic to Peru and is considered Endangered by the IUCN.