Rastúcu

Rastúcu is a flowering plant species in the family Fabaceae that is native to the montane wet forests of the eastern Andes in South America. The species is typically a low‑lying shrub or small tree reaching heights of 2 to 4 metres. Its leaves are pinnate with 5 to 9 leaflets, each leaflet being leathery and oval to lance‑shaped, measuring 4 to 8 centimetres in length. Flowers are small and white to pale pink, appearing in dense terminal racemes during the wet season. The fruit is a slender legume pod containing 2 to 4 seeds, and fruiting generally takes place from September to November.

Rastúcu prefers well‑drained, acidic soils and is often found in forest gaps, along stream banks, and on steep slopes where it can compete with taller canopy species. The plant plays a role in nitrogen fixation, contributing to soil fertility in its habitat. Local indigenous communities use the bark and roots of Rastúcu in traditional medicines to treat fevers, wounds, and digestive ailments. The wood, though not widely commercially exploited, is valued for small construction projects and carving due to its fine grain and moderate hardness.

The species is currently listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, primarily due to habitat loss from logging, agricultural expansion, and climate change that threatens the unique montane ecosystems. Conservation efforts focus on protecting remaining forest fragments, promoting sustainable use of the plant, and cultivating it in botanical gardens for research and restoration purposes. Rastúcu is a subject of botanical interest for its potential medicinal compounds and ecological role in Andean forest regeneration.