Schinopsis


Schinopsis is a genus of South American trees in the family Anacardiaceae, also known by the common names quebracho, quebracho colorado and red quebracho. In Brazil it is known as baraúna or braúna.

Description

The species within this genus inhabit different regions of the Gran Chaco ecoregion including parts of northern Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay. In Brazil it can be found as a component of the Caatinga in the northwestern region.
The name is in recognition of the hardness of the wood from the Spanish quiebra-hacha. It also distinguishes the species from the "white quebracho" trees of the unrelated genus Aspidosperma.
Schinopsis is the exclusive food plant of the moth Coleophora haywardi.

Species

Uses

The timber is used in furniture and on railroads due to its durability.

Parasites and pathogens

Schinopsis is the sole host of the ancestral powdery mildew species Caespitotheca forestalis, which is known from Schinopsis balansae, Schinopsis haenkeana, and Schinopsis lorentzii.