I realize you were directing your question to Steven because you mention one of the rivers that we northerners call the Amazon. However, I will note that wikipedia also says that the leaves, buds and shoots of Cecropia trees are among the sloth’s favorite foods. Since sloths live in rain forests and not in savannas, as far as I know, I haven’t seen one here.

Mary

Actually, they grow like weeds here in Panama, too. Of course, they choose – or the birds who deposit their seeds choose – where the trees will grow. I decided these trees needed to grow in a place that would block the view of our neighbor’s house, and I was a little too impatient to wait for a bird to help me.

Thanks for your comment. I like your blog (Tropical Biodiversity – The Amazon) very much and have belatedly added a link to it.

Mary

Do sloths favor the Cecropias? I was told they do on the Solimões.

Thanks for your kind words – and for mentioning the Panamanian name for cecropias, guarumo.

Good luck with your move back to Panama. I’m sure you’ll be able to get a lot of information on native plants that will grow well in the David area by going to MIDA (Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario, for those who don’t know). The one in Bugaba is terrific.
Mary

Thank you for showing the native plants of my province. I always read your blog because !I love plants!
Cecropia in known in Panama as guarumo, in fact, there is a town close to Alanje called Guarumal.
We’re planning to move back to Panama in the near future. We already have a house in David that I’d like to landscape with native plants that are easy to take care and don’t need much water. I hope I can find more information on native plants from the David area, when I move there.
Keep the good work!

La Chiricana

How neat that others care about cecropias! Thanks to both for your comments.

Mary

Tom in Fl.