Asufro as part of the exposition at
Fort Zoutman
Two small plants and a
compilation of pictures of Asufro (Pereskia guamacho) presently
make part of an exhibition at the
historical museum Fort Zoutman. The exhibition is placed for the royal visit of Prince
William Alexander to Aruba in past April. Department of Agriculture,
Husbandry and Fisheries (DLVVM) focuses on Asufro as CARMABI foundation (Cura?o)
has last year internationally declared this plant as a new specie for the flora of Aruba
in the Caribbean Journal of Science. Thereby mentioning that DLVVM keeps voucher
specimens in a herbarium. Asufro is a member of Cactaceae, the family of
cactuses, as if the plant people make cactus hedges of on Aruba. Unlike the more common
known cactus, Asufro has a more defined stem with branches and it has leaves. However, the
thorns are like cactuses and the stem peels off just like the cactus. The plant has
yellow flowers and it blooms in April/May, in the dry season, when it sheds all its
leaves. The plant is present in Colombia and Isla Margarita, Venezuela, specifically in
the arid coastal areas.
The international
announcement of the presence of Asufro in the Arubian flora is important for botanists who
studies vegetation developments. Specifically those botanists who are interested in the
different variations of the same specie
now know that specimens are available in Aruba. Since 1977 DLVVM knew that Asufro was
present in the local flora, but nobody has announce it internationally. Furthermore, Stoffers
among other botanists has studied the flora of Aruba, but never mentioned this specie to
be present in the flora of Aruba. The existing specimens of Asufro are old big trees, not
easy to overlook. This stresses the necessity for botanical research on regular basis to
discover new species and to check on the status of present species. Interesting to know is
that Frere Arnoldo, the author of a huge description of the flora of the
Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, mentioned that Cura?o imported Asufro around 1850.
In Cura?o Asufro solely lives in tree gardens. 
On the other hand, the three Asufros on
Aruba live in National Park Arikok, which is a natural area. There are no
historical data known of the import of Asufro in Aruba and some species like Palo di Boonchi (Erythrina velutina) are
indigenous to Aruba but imported into the adjacent islands. Asufro is a unique plant for
Aruba and there are only three specimen left in its original habitat. Therefore, a
preliminary list of plants to be protected in a resolution under the Nature Protection
Ordinance of 1995, also mentions Asufro. DLVVM has, as a protection measure, a few
small plants of the Asufro at sale in prevention of a complete disappearance of this plant
on Aruba. Although it is preferable that the specie multiplies in its own habitat as this
has proven to be its living place. The
exhibition in Fort Zoutman is open daily from Monday to Friday, from 9 to 12 in
the morning and from 1 to 4:30 in the afternoon. The exhibition will remain open until
the end of August..
The Department of Agriculture,
Husbandry and Fisheries (DLVVM), specifically the section of Nature Management
promotes the maintenance of a vital population of the Aruban flora, through cultivation of
indigenous trees and selling these to the public. So therefore DLVVM has also some
yearlings of the Wayaca tree for sale at Piedra Plat 114 A between the
Protestant Church and the Piedra Plat traffic bridge.
For more information call
5858102 or email dirlvvm@setarnet.aw
[Information courtesy of Mr. Facundo Franken of the Department of
Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries (DLVVM) - Nature Management]
