Preliminary prospects of northwestern Amazonian shade tolerant species with ornamental potential

Abstract

The ornamental plant market in Brazil is growing substantially with a turnover of 1.4 billion USD in 2014. In addition, an increase in the supply of certain floricultural products, especially the trade of tropical flowers and foliage in both foreign and domestic markets has unraveled the potential of traditionally non-explored regions, especially the Brazilian Amazon. Moreover, it can be expected that species that are growing on the forest floor are suitable candidates as novel potted plants fit for low light indoor conditions caused by the long and dark winters on the northern hemisphere. Therefore, analyses targeting novel and under-explored ornamental species were carried out at the Zoobotanical Park (ZP) of the Federal University of Acre (UFAC). The study aimed to locate, collect and identify ornamental plant species while investigating their habitats in respect to occurrence in shaded areas. The field information was systematized with respect to the usage of various species in the literature, providing data for future research projects and contributing to the preservation of ornamental species diversity at the campus. The results include a list with different species of tropical perennial plants found in the forest of the ZP, in a shaded environment, with potential for ornamental use as potted plants. These selected species are distributed in the following genera: Anthurium Linden., Costus L., Calathea G. Mey, Dichorisandra J.C. Mikan., Dieffenbachia Carrière, Heliconia L., Fittonia Coem. Goeppertia (Körn.) Borchs. & S. Suárez., Mikania Spreng., Selaginella (Kunze) Spring., Philodendron Schott., Polypodium L., Tradescantia hort. ex Bosse., Zamia L., representatives of the botanical families: Acanthaceae, Asteraceae, Araceae, Commelinaceae, Costaceae, Marantaceae, Heliconiaceae, Polypodiaceae, Selaginellaceae and Zamiaceae, respectively. These plants are of economic interest and versatile because they can be potentially grown in pots, as bedding plants and have great diversity of varieties among species.