The intense production systems present in the Andean region have generated serious disturbances to high mountain ecosystems, which provide ecosystem services of great importance such as minerals, flora, and fauna. The study of the native flora through morphological descriptors becomes relevant to characterize and identify the vegetation that could be used in agroecological systems. This could serve as a strategy for the recovery and sustainable use of degraded systems since they promote diversity and responsible use of natural resources. The objective of this research was to determine the foliar morphological patterns that characterize four native shrub species of the High Andean forest: C. arborea; W. mariquitae; V. triphyllum y L. Subseriata. Fifteen qualitative and quantitative morphological leaf descriptors were used. Data were subjected to multivariate analysis of main components an...

The intense production systems present in the Andean region have generated serious disturbances to high mountain ecosystems, which provide ecosystem services of great importance such as minerals, flora, and fauna. The study of the native flora through morphological descriptors becomes relevant to characterize and identify the vegetation that could be used in agroecological systems. This could serve as a strategy for the recovery and sustainable use of degraded systems since they promote diversity and responsible use of natural resources. The objective of this research was to determine the foliar morphological patterns that characterize four native shrub species of the High Andean forest: C. arborea; W. mariquitae; V. triphyllum y L. Subseriata. Fifteen qualitative and quantitative morphological leaf descriptors were used. Data were subjected to multivariate analysis of main components an...