Chañar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Geoffroea decorticans |
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| A Chañar tree in the Argentine pampa | |
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Geoffroea
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G. decorticans
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| Geoffroea decorticans (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Burkart
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| Where the Chañar tree grows. | |
The Chañar (scientific name: Geoffroea decorticans) is a small tree that belongs to the pea family, called Fabaceae. You can find it in very dry places in southern South America. This tree is special because it's deciduous. This means it loses its leaves in winter when it's cold, and also in summer if the weather gets too dry.
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Discover the Chañar Tree
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The trunk of a Chañar tree usually grows straight up when it's by itself. But if it grows within a forest, it might look more like a shrub. These trees can grow to be about 3 to 10 meters (10 to 33 feet) tall.
The trunk can be up to 40 centimeters (16 inches) wide. It has yellow bark that peels off, showing a younger, green bark underneath. The tree has many branches and lots of leaves, giving its top part a round shape.
Flowers and Fruits
The Chañar's flowers are very easy to see. They are small, feel like paper, and are bright yellow. The tree blooms in spring (from September to October in the Southern Hemisphere). The flowers grow either alone or in small groups called clusters. After the flowers, the tree produces fruits from November to January.
What makes the Chañar special among legumes (plants that produce pods) is its fruit. It has a soft, oval fruit that holds just one seed inside. When the fruits are young, they are green. But as they get older, they turn a deep orange color.
What's in a Name?
The second part of the tree's scientific name, decorticans, tells us something important about it. It means that the bark of its trunk peels off.
This tree has several common names. The most well-known is chañar. People also call it the Chilean palo verde or kumbaru.
Where Chañar Trees Grow
The Chañar tree grows naturally in very dry areas across South America. You can find Geoffroea decorticans in Argentina (northwest and central parts), Bolivia, northern Chile, western Paraguay, southern Peru, and western Uruguay.
These trees can grow from sea level all the way up to 2,300 meters (about 7,500 feet) above sea level. In Chile, they grow in several regions, including Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquimbo. When many Chañar trees grow together, they form groups called chañarales.
How People Use Chañar
The wood from the Chañar tree is moderately hard and strong. This makes it good for carpentry and for making furniture. People also use it as firewood and to make simple sticks for fences.
Sweet Treats and More
The fruits of the Chañar tree are sweet and can be eaten, and so can the seeds. Both the fruits and seeds are used as food for people and animals. The fruits are often used in cooking and for traditional medicine. They are commonly made into a sweet syrup called chañar molasses.
Because the Chañar tree produces many bright, yellow flowers, it is also grown as an ornamental plant. This means people plant it just for its beauty!
- Pictures and information about Geoffroea decorticans in Northern Chile
Images for kids
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Flowers and leaves.
See also
In Spanish: Chañar para niños
