Field Guide to Montevideo Department’s Flora · Fauna · Funga A NOTE FOR EXPLORERS This guide is meant to inspire exploration and learning. Always verify species identification using multiple sources, especially for edible or medicinal plants and mushrooms. Stay safe: Never consume wild species without expert confirmation. Observe wildlife from a respectful distance and follow local regulations. Species data and images sourced from iNaturalist.org. Consider contributing your own observations and/or supporting their work. Montevideo Department Field Guide 1 FLORA Caven Thorn Vachellia caven This ornamental tree grows 4-5 meters tall, features sharp thorns, and blooms bright yellow flowers. It thrives in central Chile’s matorral. Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana A flowering plant native to southern South America, known for its sharp leaf margins and often found in moist riparian areas. Ivy-Leaved Toadflax Cymbalaria muralis A low-spreading perennial with purple snapdragon-like flowers, this plant thrives in rocky habitats and grows well on walls. Schinus Longifolia Schinus longifolia (no description available) Bluecrown Passionflower Passiflora caerulea Vigorous vine with palmately lobed leaves and fragrant blue-white flowers. Known for its medicinal uses and ornamental value. Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos A deciduous tree native to central North America, it thrives in moist soils, features thorns, and produces sweet, pod-like fruits. Montevideo Department Field Guide 2 FAUNA Rufous Hornero Furnarius rufus A medium-sized ovenbird, it thrives in eastern South America, noted for its reddish-brown plumage and unique clay nests resembling ovens. Parawixia Audax Parawixia audax (no description available) Rufous-Bellied Thrush Turdus rufiventris A common songbird in Brazil, it features reddish-orange underparts and is known for its melodic singing, especially at night. Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus A large, conspicuous passerine with a black head, white supercilium, and rufous fringes, found from the U.S. to Argentina. House Sparrow Passer domesticus A small, adaptable bird, often found in urban areas, with distinct male and female plumage. It thrives alongside human habitation worldwide. Harris’S Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus A medium-large bird of prey, known for cooperative hunting and social behavior, found from the U.S. to South America. Montevideo Department Field Guide 3 FUNGA Coprinellus Coprinellus A diverse genus of fungi, known for frequent reclassification, with 62 accepted species, often requiring microscopic analysis for identification. Common Ink Cap Coprinopsis atramentaria A common mushroom with a greyish-brown cap, it grows in tufts in urban areas and is known for its adverse reaction with alcohol. Field And Button Mushrooms Agaricus A diverse genus of fungi with over 400 species, characterized by fleshy caps, chocolate-brown spores, and a ring on the stalk. Dung-Loving Bird’S Nest Fungus Cyathus stercoreus This fungus features funnel-shaped fruiting bodies resembling tiny nests, dispersing spores via water drops. It thrives in dung-rich environments. Montevideo Department Field Guide 4 Chip Cherries Leratiomyces ceres This mushroom features a bright red to orange cap, dark purple-brown spores, and grows on wood chips in various regions worldwide. Purple-Spored Puffball Calvatia cyathiformis A large terrestrial puffball with purplish spores, smooth exterior, and pear-shaped form as it matures, found in grasslands of Australia. Montevideo Department Field Guide 5 PHOTO ATTRIBUTIONS • Agaricus - (c) Jason Hollinger, some rights reserved (CC BY) • Calvatia cyathiformis - (c) Randy Bodkins, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Randy Bodkins • Coprinellus - (c) Gavin Slater, some rights reserved (CC BY) • Coprinopsis atramentaria - (c) Kauko Paltta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) • Cortaderia selloana - (c) kcdcrestoration, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) • Cyathus stercoreus - (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) • Cymbalaria muralis - (c) Scarlett S., some rights reserved (CC BY) • Furnarius rufus - (c) Ron Knight, some rights reserved (CC BY) • Gleditsia triacanthos - (c) Dwight Bohlmeyer, some rights reserved (CC BY- NC), uploaded by Dwight Bohlmeyer • Leratiomyces ceres - (c) Thomas Mesaglio, some rights reserved (CC BY) • Parabuteo unicinctus - (c) Greg Lasley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Greg Lasley • Parawixia audax - (c) RAP, some rights re- served (CC BY), uploaded by RAP • Passer domesticus - (c) Oliver Clarke, some rights reserved (CC BY) • Passiflora caerulea - (c) RAP, some rights re- served (CC BY) • Pitangus sulphuratus - (c) Joanne Muis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) • Schinus longifolia - (c) Diego Kondratzky, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) • Turdus rufiventris - (c) Nigel Voaden, some rights reserved (CC BY) • Vachellia caven - (c) Susana Hilt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Susana Hilt