“Year of good citizen service”

NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY OF
Faculty UCAYALI of
Human Medicine

REPORT OF THE VISIT TO THE

TOURIST BOTANICAL GARDEN:
BIOKUKA

 Course : Complementary Medicine

 teacher : Dr. Ángel Terrones Marreros

 Cycle : VIII

 Student : Carolina Maribel Pulache Siu

2017
 INTRODUCTION
The study of rubber exploitation and its economic-social consequences in Peru allows
us to rethink a series of arguments that we believe are of certain importance to
understand more clearly the true meaning of the process of national and regional
underdevelopment in Peru. Rubber is nothing more than an additional case in the long
list of "product booms" that the country has suffered throughout its history.

A quick look at this phenomenon of growth through an export product allows us to

cover the history of the Peruvian economy from the colonial period to the present day:
first silver, later guano, then the failed case of nitrate, sugar, copper, fishmeal, and now
the uncertain oil: the economy has always been boosted thanks to one or a few products
destined almost exclusively for export that, at their best, have left an ephemeral
sensation of progress and well-being felt. economic.

Although rubber is one more in this long list of export products, it has been one of the
least studied, perhaps because it is suspected of having a purely regional influence. The
analysis of its development, however, allows us to insist on the doubts already existing
regarding certain explanatory theories of underdevelopment, and especially the
dependency theory, as a basic element to explain underdevelopment in Peru and Latin
America. The fact of saying that the backwardness in these countries is due to the fact
that they were incorporated into the world system in a subordinate manner to the center,
shows that the analysis is being restricted to the sphere of circulation and not to that of
production, which is why the Link with the market becomes the criterion par excellence
when studying the socioeconomic problems of underdeveloped countries.

It was in the Amazon rainforest where rubber extraction activity was developed from
the rubber tree or seringueira (in Portuguese), a tree that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae
family, also known as the fortune tree. A white liquid, called latex , is extracted from
the stem of this tree, composed of 35% hydrocarbons , highlighting 2-methyl-1,3-
butadiene (C 5 H 8 ), commercially known as isoprene or rubber monomer.

For 20 years, the Biokuka Botanical Garden has been rebuilding forests in the heart of
the Peruvian Amazon, where we found during our visit a great diversity of medicinal
plants, bioremedication plants, polycultures among others, where we were able to find
the Shiringa, this tree that marked a great impact on the industry. Its great demand came
from the application of the invention of vulcanization to the industry, particularly the
automotive industry, which required this input for its tires. Its exploitation generated the
migration of numerous businessmen with a strong adventurous spirit from the Sierra of
Peru, Brazil and other countries. Numerous foreign colonies were established in the
region. This new wealth meant the growth of River Ports in both Brazil and Peru.

BIOKUKA BOTANICAL GARDEN

The BIOKUKA botanical garden is a place where they carry out the reconstruction of
the forest, with a focus on ecological agriculture from degraded soils, they carry out
research work, internships and training, multi-tract agriculture is practiced, where an
agroforest is perceived, organic vegetable gardens, aquaculture and fish polycultures,
organic cultivation of camu camu, coffee and cocoa.

The management of plant succession and forests, production of organic fertilizers and
the raising of small animals is carried out. You can see niches of forests that provide
environmental services, for the capture of carbon and oxygen, it has organic
certification, since 2005, issued by the Biolatina certifier. They carry out the
reconstruction of forests, biodiversity and polycultures.

There is a biological diversity with more than 500 species of plants: ornamental,
forestry, medicinal, fruit trees, among others; the same one that houses a diversity of
animals. It has 2 hectares of secondary forest on a non-floodable "height" terrace with
its respective route and 3 hectares. of secondary forest in wetlands conserved for more
than 25 years, it is located at a distance of 2 blocks from the Federico Basadre highway
and the other 1km from the track respectively. It has a multi-extract agro-flora system, a
forest reconstructed from degraded soil, with permanent production of various fruit
trees for a year, comprising approximately 2 hectares. It has aquaculture management
modules for fishing and canoe travel. It has two tourist routes, one is approximately 2
hours long and the other is 3 to 4 hours long. It has 80% a viewpoint of the different
garden components. It has two soccer fields in the middle of trees. It has biogarden
modules, organic cultivation of sachainchi, camu camu, and organic fertilizer
production. A 5m maloca. For 15m. To receive visitors and a bedroom for a family, the
ethnobotanical garden has been implemented for 15 years, in an area where slash-and-
burn agriculture and livestock farming from fires were practiced for more than 50 years,
that is, in a degraded ecosystem, as we can see many evidences along the axis of the
roads. In the garden, modules or training packages are developed in organic agriculture,
eco forests, renewable energy, etc. It has recreation areas.
SHIRINGA, rubber, rubber
 N. C. Hevea brasiliensis
 Kingdom: Plantae
 Phylum: Magnoliophyta
 Order: Magnoliopsida
 Class: Euphorbiales
 Family: Euphorbiaceae

In tropical forests of Central and South America.

Tree that reaches 15 to 30 meters in height and 20
to 60 centimeters in diameter. Its trunk is straight
and cylindrical. The bark is cream or light brown.
The terminal twigs are green. Detachment of any
part of the plant produces the flow of a white,
milky exudate. The leaves are trifoliolate and
alternate. Its fruits have 3 or 4 seeds that fall to the
ground when it matures and opens.

 APPLICATIONS

The wood is moderately heavy and is used in light construction and in the manufacture
of boxes. Rubber or soap is prepared from the milky exudate that comes out of the bark,
which was formerly one of the main commercial products in the tropics.

The term rubber comes from the word cauchuc in the Omagua language, which means
“tree that cries,” and which was surely a generalization for several species of trees that
produced elastic resin.

In the 18th century, the French geographer and mathematician Charles Marie de La
Condamine used the term rubber to inform Europe of the importance of this wonderful
product, of which there were already references from the time of the conquest. The term
shiringa derives from the Portuguese word seringa, which means syringe and refers to
the pumps or syringes that the Omagua Indians made with the latex of different species
of the genus Hevea, also, although in smaller numbers, with the latex of the species
Castilloa ulei. These syringes were shaped like a hollow pear to which a cannula was
attached and were used to ingest narcotics and purgatives or to perform enemas. The use
of these syringes became so popular among the Portuguese that the Portuguese term, in
many areas of the Amazon, finally prevailed over the indigenous term. Popularly, in the
Amazon region, a distinction is made between rubber, a tree of the species Castilloa
ulei, and shiringa, generally Hevea brasiliensis. The rubber obtained from the first
species is of worse quality than that obtained from the second species, likewise, the
method of extraction is more expensive and less economically interesting, since the
extraction of the first species involves felling the tree.

BACKGROUND OF THE JEBE OR RUBBER

1. Environmental Aspects.

 Recovery of deforested areas:

The cultivation or reforestation of shiringa allows the recovery of abandoned,
degraded or degrading soils, eroded, etc., which can result in an increase in biodiversity
or the supply of habitats, increasing fauna (huanganas, monkeys, birds among others).

The phytomass accumulated by the cultivation of shiringa varies according to the

age, clone, plantation density, health status of the plants and the environment. This
starts after closing the canopy. Shiringa cultivation, at the end of its economic life,
accumulates 229 tons of carbon/hectare, per phytomass, plus 37 tons per rubber
production (dry rubber to carbon ratio = 1.24:1).

Likewise, it is more efficient in the use of nutrients than other crops such as oil palm
and coconut (table 1).

 Hydrological cycle:
Shiringa cultivation causes the storage of 68% of precipitation water, while natural
forests achieve 50% storage (table 2). In shiringa cultivation and in the forest, surface
runoff is almost zero due to retention by the vegetation and good soil drainage.

 Nutrient recycling:
 The importance of establishing this crop lies in the low demand for soil quality and
makes it possible to successfully take advantage of degraded soils in the Amazon, where
other crops cannot develop adequately. Table 3 shows the nutrient storage capacity of
the species in the phytomass, in the soil, annual leaves and litter, which shows its great
potential for soil improvement.

2. Social Aspects.

The importance of shiringa cultivation lies in the following points: - It addresses the
traditional and cultural aspects of the local population. And it can strengthen cultural
identity, in the face of possible social impacts (for example, interoceanic highway).
Well, the shiringuera activity is a whole culture of knowledge accumulated for more
than 100 years. - The use of latex and/or bleeding is done manually and does not require
mechanization. Therefore it demands labor. - Agroforestry systems generate
opportunities for family labor. - It fixes man to rural property, generating employment
throughout the year, generating continuous income. - From the point of view of monthly
income, a module of 3 hectares allows earnings that vary from 4 to 5 minimum wages. -
Prevents migration from the countryside to the city, avoiding social problems such as
crime, child abuse, prostitution, among others. - Contributes to the strengthening of
other sectors; as small and medium-sized industries dedicated to the processing of
rubber.

3. Economic Aspects. The cultivation of shiringa requires a high generation of

permanent labor: A family with six cultivated hectares and a productivity of 1,300 kg of
dry rubber/ha/year can obtain an approximate gross monthly income of S/. 6000. A
single person can manage up to six cultivated hectares, using stimulants and prolonging
the days of bleeding. It is a generator of continuous income once put into use. The
prices of rubber or natural rubber, in recent years, have a trend of significant increase in
the national and international market. And that is directly related to the price of oil.
Increasing the price of synthetic rubber.

BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GENUS Hevea.

 Genetic diversity and natural distribution of Hevea
The genus Hevea etymologically derives from the indigenous Hevé, which means
rubber, it belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, class Dicotyledoneae, division
Angiospermae. The classification of the Hevea genus presents eleven species, which are
limited to tropical America. The following species are mentioned below:

 Hevea benthamiana Muell.-Arg.

 Hevea brasiliensis Muell.-Arg.
 Hevea camargoana Pires.
 Hevea camporum Ducke.
 Hevea guianensis Aublet.
 Hevea microphylla Ule.
 Hevea nitida Mart. former Muell.-Arg.
 Hevea pauciflora (Spr. ex Benth.) Muell.-Arg.
 Hevea rigidifolia (Spr. ex Benth.) Muell.-Arg.
 Hevea spruceana (Benth.) Muell.-Arg.
 Hevea paludosa Ule.

Five species are reported in Peru: Hevea guianensis; Hevea nitida, Hevea pauciflora,
Hevea brasiliensis, Hevea paludosa and a variety of Hevea guianensis var. Lutea.

Hevea spp, in the Amazon region, is widely recognized and of utmost importance
for the genetic improvement of the shiringa crop, for concentrating genes of high
agronomic interest. Of the eleven species that make up the genus Hevea, only H.
brasiliensis, H. benthamiana and, recently, H. pauciflora have been used in
breeding programs. Of these, Hevea brasiliensis stands out for its greatest
productive capacity and genetic variability and is the most commercially
exploited and responsible for nearly 99% of all the rubber or natural rubber
produced in the world. H. brasiliensis, produces a rubber with good physical
properties, which is why it is known as fine rubber, while the other species
produce a rubber of inferior quality in its physical properties and is known as
weak rubber.

Hevea brasiliensis is an extremely variable species, not only in its morphology

but in its preferences for: habitat, altitudinal limit, dry season tolerance, disease
resistance, latex yield, rubber quality and other specialized traits. In Madre de
Dios, wild shiringa trees (Hevea brasiliensis) have been found that produce much
more than the average of what is obtained in the large plantations of Asia and
that the best clones have already been tested.

Natural populations of shiringa (Hevea spp.) cover very large areas based on the
wide spacing resulting from the natural dispersion of the species. The area of
natural occurrence is between the latitudes of 3ºN and 15ºS, made up of eight
countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Suriname and
Guyana.

In Peru, it is naturally distributed in the department of Loreto: on the banks of the

Clotilde, Yavari and Putumayo rivers; in the department of Huánuco: along the
tributaries of the Huayaga river in Tingo María, in San Martin, Yurimaguas,
Paranapura river, Chambira stream, Marañon river and pongo de Manseriche. In
the department of Ucayali and mainly in the department of Madre de Dios, in the
province of Tahuamanu. It should be noted that Hevea brasiliensis does not exist
in all of the places mentioned. In the province of Tahuamanu, it has
approximately 925 thousand hectares with the presence of H. brasiliensis.
  Morphological characteristics of the genus
 Stem or shaft

The stem in most species is straight, cylindrical and always branched at the top
of the crown. The species H. microphylla and H. spruceana have a ventricous stem at
the base, for better adaptation to swamps. All species are trees, except for Hevea
camporum, which is a shrub. In general, they are medium to very large trees, which
belong to the largest representatives of Hevea guianensis and H. brasiliensis, which can
reach up to 50 m in height (including the crown) and 1 to 1.5 m in diameter at DBH
(Diameter at Breast Height). The stem or bole preserves the leaves in various periods of
growth; In plagiotropic growth branches, there is a tendency to defoliate, such that some
species retain their leaves only in the last sprouting, as is the case of H species.
brasiliensis, H. benthamiana, H. guianensis, H. microphylla and H. nitida, while others
may present leaves in two or more consecutive shoots, as occurs in H. pauciflora, H.
rigidifolia and H. spruceana.

 Sheet

The leaves are long-petiolate, with a pulvine at the base of the glabrous petiole,
with three leaflets that range from elliptical-lanceolate to oblanceolate or obovate. At
the base of the petiole, there are three wart glands. Regarding consistency, the leaflets
vary from papyraceous to rigid, in that case, with a revolute margin. The central vein is
penninervia, impressed or prominent, according to the lower phase. As for the clothing,
it can be glabrous or with reddish-brown hairiness (H. benthamiana) or whitish (H.
spruceana). Some species have papillae or scales in the lower phase. The leaves can
help in systemic characterization, that is, by the reclined position of the petioles, as in
H. rigidifolia, tending horizontally or downwards in H. brasiliensis, for ascending in H.
guianensis and with a callous apex in H. pauciflora.

In each sprouting the first leaves are larger and farther apart, with greater
terminal density of smaller leaves towards the apex. The central leaflet in relation to the
lateral ones is a little larger and has a slightly narrower base.

The petioles are almost cylindrical, somewhat attenuated at the apex with the
base thickened at the pulvine. In the adaxial phase (pulvine region), there is a canaliculi
with petioles measuring 15 to 25 cm in length and petiolules 10 to 16 mm long; It has a
pair of glands or nectaries at the insertion of the petioles. The blades are oblanceolate or
obovate, acute at the apex and base, 10 to 15 cm long and five to nine centimeters wide.
The upper side is dark green and shiny, and the lower side is lighter and opaque.

The leaves are trifoliate, that is, each leaf is made up of three oval leaflets, of
similar size, each inserted into a petiole, which are in turn inserted into a petiole that has
a pair of glands or nectaries at the insertion point. .

The newly formed leaves have a copper tone and dark green in mature leaves.

 Inflorescence
 The inflorescences arranged in panicles along the terminal shoots arise in the
axils of the leaves and are formed from diclinous flowers. The female flowers are at the
apex of the panicle branches, and the male flowers, in greater number, are located
further below the female flowers. The male flower is short pediceled; The calyx of five
sepals has a small tube, internally containing a rudimentary disc, which surrounds the
staminal column (androphore) with one or two whorls of sessile anthers and bitecae, and
a single locule. The pollen is tricolpate, oblatespheroidal, with wide colps and an
operculum present. In meridian view, it is more or less irregular elliptical, with a thin
exine. The female flower is formed by the quinquelobate calyx, internally containing a
disc, which surrounds the tricarpelar ovary with three sessile stigmas and one ovule per
locule, hanging from the central placental column. The multilobed disc appears to be a
rudiment of the stamens. At the base of the flower, the receptacle may have an H-
shaped waist. microphylla, being obconic in H. nitida is very reduced in H. Camporum.
The tips of hale seals may be callose in H. nitida and in H. pauciflora and after
fertilization, the calyx detaches. The color of the sepals often distinguishes species. It is
intense yellow in H. benthamiana and pale yellow in H. pauciflora. The base of the
reddish sepals distinguishes the species H. spruceana and H. Camargoana. The
elongation of the sepals is a relevant characteristic in the species H. Camporum.

 Fruit

The fruit is a globose, tricarpellar (three-celled) capsule, elongated in H.

spruceana, more or less pyramidal in H. microphylla, lignified, dehiscent, with one seed
in each. The tissues that form the wall of the fruit are three fibrous layers with the fibers
directed in opposite directions.

The seeds hatch abruptly from the fruit upon reaching physiological maturation.
The seeds have a compact epidermis, in which there are groups of cells with dark
pigments that stand out against the lighter lower tissues.

 Root

It has a taproot and branched or lateral roots. The taproot can exceed 5 meters in
length. The lateral roots are located around the taproot at a distance generally less than
40 cm from the neck of the plant, forming more accentuated branches in the upper
horizon of the soil, which are subdivided into a more or less dense set of rootlets called
“ roots of nutrition.”

 Cortex

The external bark is pink or dark brown, the fissures on the shaft are longitudinal
and parallel. The inner bark is soft and fibrous in texture, pinkish cream in color, the
flavor is slightly sweet. It exudes abundant, milky, yellow to white latex, depending on
the species.

 Latex
 Latex is derived from secretion processes of living cells. The most important
laticiferous tissues appear in concentric bands in the bark of the trunk and main
branches.

 Seeds

Shiringa seeds are large and variable from one clone to another, weighing
between 3.5 and 6.0 g, oval in shape with a slightly flattened neutral surface. They have
a compact epidermis, in which there are groups of cells with dark pigments that stand
out against the lighter lower tissues; These spots are characteristic of each tree, and have
been used to recognize clones. The seeds contain more than 15% oil. For this reason the
germination period is short, resulting in serious damage to the production of seedlings.

Figure
3:
Shiringa
seeds of
different
genotypes where the great variability of the species is observed.

A quick test to verify the viability of the seeds consists of collecting 100 units at
random; With a knife, a cut is made through the seeds to analyze the color inside them:

 White (milky) endosperm = good seed

 Oily endosperm = doubtful seed
 Yellow endosperm = bad seed

By separating the viable seeds, a percentage is obtained and we have an idea of how
many seeds will germinate.
 FIGURE 4: Shiringa seeds with exposed endosperm, where you can see: a) seed
with white endosperm, considered good seed; b) seed with oily to yellowish
endosperm, considered bad seed.

 Morphological characteristics of Hevea species.

 Hevea benthamiana Muell. Arg.

Ovary hairy, disc present, two whorls of anthers regular or somewhat irregular;
Leaflets more than 3 cm wide, hairy with curtiferruginous hairs. Leaves only on the last
bud (terminal part of the twigs).

 Hevea brasiliensis (H,BK) Muell. Arg.

Ovary hairy, disc absent, two whorls of anther, inflorescence in lighter

indumentum; seeds imperfectly globose; floriferous panicles arising at the base of the
terminal shoot (rosette of branches), as in the axils of the lower leaflets; non-ascending
leaflets in the living plant and hairy calyx inside. Leaves only in the last sprouting.

 Hevea camargoana Pires

Ovary glabrous, disc present, a single whorl of 3 to 5 stamens, base of the

flowers red-pink. The lower part of the flower is gibbous and the upper part is very thin
and has twisted lacinia. Leaves in more than one bud

 Hevea camporum Ducke

Glabrous ovary, very small fruits, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, seeds up to 1 cm. Very

compressed flower buds, with a very thin upper half and twisted lacinia. H.
Camargoana. Leaves in more than one bud.

 Hevea guianensis Aubl.

Ovary hairy, disc absent, a single whorl for anthers, or two very incomplete;
ferrogineous inflorescence located only at the base of the terminal shoot (rosette); calyx
glabrous inside; seeds more rounded and smaller; leaves only in the last sprouting.

 Hevea microphylla Ule.

 Ovary glabrous, capsule pyramidal, pointed with leathery pericarp, thin, flexible
and porous, with slow dehiscence; female flower receptacle swollen; seeds with sharp
apex; compressed calyx; treble buttons; non-woody pericarp, slow fruit dehiscence,
unable to launch seeds far. Leaves only in the last bud.

 Hevea nitida Mart. former Dock. Arg.

Ovary glabrous, buttons obtuse, sepals short with callous apex; leaflets with
color, without scaly papillae on the underside, makes the species unique; smaller and
more rounded seeds.

 Hevea paludosa Ule.

Ovary hairy; disk present; leaflets glabrous and with microscopic scaly papillae;
calyx compressed, internally and eternally hairy; apex of the callose sepals, as in H.
sharp and H. pauciflora; leaves only in the last bud.

 Hevea pauciflora (Spruce ex Benth) Muell. Arg.

Ovary glabrous, leaflets discolored due to scaly papillae; large, horizontal,

reclining leaves; The larger seeds are globose, the smaller ones are rounded, with a thin
and flexible testa when subjected to finger pressure.

Figure 3. Comparison of flowers of the genus Hevea: 1. Hevea benthamiana Muell.-Arg.; 2.

Hevea brasiliensis Muell.-Arg.; 3. Hevea camargoana Pires; 4. Hevea camporum Decke; 5.
Hevea guianensis Aubl.; 6. Hevea microphylla Ule.; 7. Hevea nitida Muell. Arg.; 8. Hevea
pauciflora Muell.-Arg.; 9. Hevea rigidifolia Muell.-Arg.; 10. Hevea spruceana Muell.-Arg.;
eleven. Hevea paludosa Ule. a) Closed male flowers; b) Open male flowers; c) male flowers
without sepals, showing the staminal column; d) closed female flowers; e) open female flowers;
f) female flowers without the sepals, showing the sessile stigma and upper ovary. Taken from
Gonçalves & Marques (2008).

 Hevea rigidifolia Spruce ex Benth.

Ovary glabrous, male buds compressed, with fine punat and lacinia, somewhat
twisted and calloused; Leaflet not calloused, thick, leathery and generally with a
revolute margin. Leaves in more than one bud.

 Hevea sprucena (Benth.) Muell. Arg.

Ovary hairy, seeds elongated, long exceeding twice the width; flowers in both
sexes with a red-pink base; whitish hairs on leaves; nonviolent dehiscence. Leaves in
the last sprouting.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Nimer Guillermo Velarde Katayama, Telésforo Vásquez Zavaleta,
Dennis del Castillo Torres, Luz Leonor Mattos Calderón. The cultivation
of Shiringa in Madre de Dios – Peru. Peruvian Amazon Research
Institute.
 Amazon Guide Illustrated Guide to Flora and Fauna.
 Under the shadow of the Shiringa: http://www.wwf.org.pe/?287750/bajo-
la-sombra-de-la-shiringa