Vegetation units

The main vegetation units of the Humid Chaco and the important species associated with each are described here.

There are many intermediate formations between two or more of the units described, so this explanation should be taken as a synthesis of the complex vegetation of the Humid Chaco and not as a complete description of all the units we can find in the area

  • Cereus sp.
    Quebrachales

    A climax vegetation, quebrachales is dominated by hardwood quebracho trees.

  • Parkinsonia aculeata
    Algarrobales

    A spare forest, algarrobales is characterised by wet and dry season vegetation.

  • Copernica alba
    Palmares de karanda'y

    These palm savannahs sit between upland forests and low wetlands.

  • Victoria cruziana
    Wetlands

    A defining unit of the Humid Chaco, wetlands cover a range of water depths and currents.

  • Solanum juvenale
    Grasslands

    Sometimes flooded or affected by fires, the species present on grasslands are variable.

  • Tabernaemontana catharinensis
    Riparian vegetation

    Many different types of woody vegetation are associated with the rivers and wetlands of the Humid Chaco.

  • Pterogyne nitens
    Secondary vegetation

    Where primary vegetation has been stripped away, pioneer and non-native plants have colonised the Humid Chaco.