Uva de Páramo/ Uva Camarona/ Chaquilulo

Uva de Páramo (Macleania rupestris)

Macleania rupestris or Uva de Paramo is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. It is native to the Andean highlands, particularly found in páramo ecosystems of countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. 

It is a woody shrub or small tree and its leaves are leathery, elliptical, and dark green, adapted to the cold, high-altitude conditions of the páramo. Flowers are tubular, usually bright red to orange, and are pollinated by hummingbirds. The fruit resembles a small, dark purple to black berry, similar in appearance to a grape. The fruit is edible and sometimes consumed by local people or native wildlife. This plant is an important part of páramo biodiversity, contributing to the food web by providing nectar for pollinators and fruit for birds and mammals. It is well adapted to cold, moist, and nutrient-poor soils, characteristic of high-altitude environments. As the other páramo species, it plays a role in water regulation and soil conservation in these fragile ecosystems.