Wild species of interest for tourism in Manabi and Guayas, Ecuador

Ethnobotany is the discipline that studies the relationships between man and plants. The purpose of the study was to identify the uses of wild species of interest for tourism in Manabi and Guayas. Interviews, walks and field observations were carried out in areas with little disturbed vegetation. Seventeen species were reported with at least one recognized use, some used for the manufacture of artisanal, ornamental objects, and the majority in danger of extinction due to the degradation of their habitat. The species of greatest interest for tourism due to their beauty and degree of scarcity are Attalea colenda (O.F. Cook) Balslev & A.J. Hend. (Arecaceae), Brassia jipijapensis Dodson & N.H. Williams (Orchidaceae), Ceiba trischistandra (A. Gray) Bakhuisen (Malvaceae), Erythrina megistophylla Diels (Fabaceae), Erythrina smithiana Krukoff Fabaceae, Macroclinium manabinum (Dodson) Dodson (Orchidaceae), Passiflora sprucei Mast. (Passifloraceae), Phytelephas aequatorialis Spruce (Arecaceae) and Prestoea acuminata (Willd.) H.E. Moore var. acuminata (Arecaceae).