Included here are the forests of the Magdalena Valley, Panama Canal, Panama's Darién province, western Colombia and the west coast of Ecuador. Several types are recognised.

Chocóan Coastal Wet Forest

On the basaltic rocks of Cape Corrientes, Colombia where there is a short dry season between January and March, the closed canopy wet forest reaches heights of up to 45 m and has emergents extending up to 59 m. The emergent species include Brosimum utile (Moraceae), Caryocar amygdaliferum (Caryocaraceae) and Ceiba aff. pentandra (Malvaceae), with many of these tall trees having large buttress roots. The most abundant canopy species are Otoba latialata and Otoba novogranatensis (Myristicaceae), Oenocarpus bataua (Arecaceae), Welfia regia (Arecaceae) and Wettinia quinaria (Arecaceae). Here the most abundant families are Arecaceae, Clusiaceae, Fabaceae, Moraceae, Myristicaceae and Sapotaceae. The largely open under storey is mainly composed of smaller versions of the species mentioned above but also includes Conostegia setosa (Melastomataceae). Arecaceae is the most abundant family followed by Fabaceae, Melastomaceae, Moraceae and Myristicaceae. In terms of species-riches, 124 tree species with basil diameters greater than 10 cm were recorded in a one-hectare plot and these comprised 86 genera and 40 families. This forest like other Chocó forests was found to be notable for its abundance of arboreal palms and possibly has a higher number of palm species than any other Neotropical forest. Also in line with other Chocó forests the hemi epiphytes are more prevalent than lianas.

Darien Tropical Moist Forest

These forests are notable for the size, number and height of the trees. The canopy can reach heights of 40 m and further characterized by the giant emergents like Cavanillesia platanifolia and Ceiba pentandra. Both of these are deciduous and their naked branches can be a striking feature from the air. Other important canopy trees include Anacardium excelsum, Bombacopsis sessilis, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Licania hypoleuca, Platypodium elegans, Pseudobombax septenatum, Sterculia apetala, Terminalia amazonica, Tetragastris panamensis, Vitex masoniana and the Panamanian endemics Copaifera aromatica (Fabaceae), Lecythis tuyrana (Lecythidaceae) and Gyranthera dariensis (Bambacaceae). At least 49 canopy trees have been identified. However, the canopy is often broken into several strata, with the Panamanian endemic palm Sabal allenii (Arecaceae) being one of the most abundant sub canopy species, but overall the sub canopy is the richest stratum in terms of numbers of species with at least 157 recorded. Other common sub canopy trees include Allophylus occidentalis, Calycophyllum candidissimum, Guarea guidonia, Heisteria longipes, Luehea seemannii, Mouriri parviflora, Neea amplifolia, Ouratea lucens, Quararibea asterolepis, Randia armata, Scheelia zonensis, Trophis racemosa, Xylopia aromatica and the Panamanian endemics Annona spaguei (Annonaceae), Cecropia longipes (Moraceae), Ceiba rosea (Bambacaceae), Centrolobium yavizanum (Fabaceae), Eschweilera woodsoniana (Lecythidaceae), Guapira standleyiana (Nyctaginaceae), Inga mucuna (Fabaceae), Machaerium chambersii (Fabaceae), Pentagonia brachyotis (Rubiaceae), Piper pinoganense (Piperaceae), Protium panamensis (Burseraceae), Rinorea brachythrix (Violaceae) and Swartzia darienensis (Fabaceae). The shrub layer is the second richest stratum with at least 56 species recorded. Some of the more common species include Faramea luteovirens, Mabea occidentalis and the Panamanian endemics Miconia rufostellulata (Melostomataceae), Piper darienense (Piperaceae) and Steriphoma macranthum (Capparaceae). Vines are also very abundant. Common woody vines include Connarus panamensis, Doliocarpus dentatus, Maripa panamensis, Passiflora vitifolia, Rourea glabra, Tetracera volubilis, Wulffia baccata and the Panamanian endemics Anthodon panamense (Hippocrateaceae), Bauhinia eucomosa (Fabaceae) and Desmoncus isthemensis (Arecaceae). Herbaceous vines are typically less common but include Bonamia maripoides, Centrosema plumieri, Dioclea guianensis, Eupatorium macrophyllum, Gurania coccinea, Mendoncia lindavii and Rhynchosia pyramidalis. Epiphytes are occasionally encountered with Tillandsia kegelliana being the most abundant species. Other relatively common species include Aechmea tillandsioides, Anthurium crassinervium, Condonanthe crassifolia, Drymonia serrulata, Hylocereus monacanthus, Philodendron tripartitum, Wittia panemensis and the Panamanian endemic Topobea pluvialis (Melastomataceae). At ground level at least 35 under storey herbs and 30 palmitas have been recorded. Typical herbs include Aneilema geniculatum, Begonia filipes, Chrysothermis friedrichstaliana, Dichorisandra hexandra, Elephantopus rosea, Petiveria alliacea, Rhynchospora cephalotes, Scleria melaleuca and the Panamanian endemic Peperomia brevipeduncula (Piperaceae). The most common palmitas are Heliconia psittacorum, H. subulata, Renealmia karatas and Xiphidium caeruleum, while other less common species include Aechmea magdalenae, Bromelia karatas, Calathea allouia, Carludovica pittieri, Corozo oleifera, Costus nutans, Ischnosiphon leucophaeus, Renealmia aromatica, Stromanthe lutea and the Panamanian endemics Dieffenbachia pittieri (Araceae) and Phytelephas seemannii (Arecaceae).

Darien Premontane Wet Forest

Located largely in the San Blas cordillera at elevations ranging from 250-600 m these forests characteristically have a dense, evenly closed canopy with many sub canopy palms. The canopy rarely exceeds 30 m and most of the trees are relatively slender although many have buttress or stilt roots. Among the most abundant canopy trees are Anacardium excelsum, Bombacopsis quinata, B. sessilis, Brosimum quianense, Ceiba pentandra, Myroxylon balsamum and Oleiocarpon panamense while listed among the less common species are various Panamanian endemics such as Couroupita magnifica, Lecythis tuyrana, L. elata (Lecythidaceae), Mimusops dariensis (Sapotaceae) and Platymisicum dariense (Fabaceae). A number of canopy species are draught deciduous. The sub canopy is relatively open and in addition to many palms also includes numerous other trees and tree ferns. Some of the most common are Brownia rosa-de-monte, Cespedesia macrophylla, Chomelia spinosa, Conostegia xalapensis, Gustavia superba, Heisteria longipes, Iriartea cornata, Luechea seemannii, Miconia borealis, Oenocarpus panamanus, Ouratea lucens, Pentagonia macrophylla, Pogonopus speciosus, Posoqueria latifolia, Pourouma scabina, Siparuna pauciflora, Stemmadenia grandiflora, Warszewiczia coccinea and Xylopia frutescens. The subcanopy also include a number of Panamanian endemics such as Cecropia longipes (Moraceae), Ceiba rosea (Bombacaceae), Gloeospermum portobellensis (Violaceae), Guapira standleyiana (Nyctaginaceae), Guatteria panamensis (Fabaceae), Inga saffordiana (Fabaceae), Macrolobium pittieri (Ochnaceae), Eschweilera panamensis (Lecythidaceae) and Pentagonia brachyotis (Rubiaceae). The dense canopy allows little light to penetrate and so the under storey tends to be fairy open. Nevertheless there are a number of terrestrial herbs. The most abundant of these are Aphelandra sindairiana, Clavija mezii, Clidemia dentata, Coccoloba coronata, Conostegia bracteata, Faramea luteovirens, Hasseltia floribunda, Henrietella fascicularis, Herrania purpurea, Leandra dichotoma, Mabea occidentalis, Palicourea guinensis, Picramnia antidesma, Pothomorphe petata, Psychotria involucrata and a variety of Miconia, Piper and Psychotria species. Several Panamanian endemics also occur including Coccoloba manzanillensis (Polygonaceae), Mollinedia darienensis (Monimiaceae), Piper lucigaudens (Piperaceae) and Topobea pluvialis (Melastomataceae). Lianas, vines and epiphytes are also common. Two of the most abundant woody vines are Drymonia spectabilis and Passiflora vitifolia while some of the less common include Strychnos dariensis (Loganiaceae), which is probably endemic to Panama. Herbaceous vines seem less frequent but include the Panamanian endemic Clidemia oblonga (melastomataceae). Epiphytes are mostly found in the canopy or on the boles of trees and typically include Begonia guaduensis, Columnea consanguinea, Drymonia serrulata, Epidendrum crassilabium, Guzmania minor, Monstera adansonii, Philodendron piperoides, Sphyrospermum buxifolium, Tillandsia crispa and a variety of Anthurium species. At ground level the most abundant herbs include Coccocypselum herbaceum and Spigelia anthelmia while among the less common species are the Panamanian endemics Begonia garagarana (Begoniaceae) and Peperomia urocarpoides (Piperaceae). 

Magdalena Moist Forest

These forests, situated in the central Magdalena Valley area and extending to the Uraba and Chocó, can be described as dense, high jungle dominated by large trees such as Anacardium excelsum, Caryniana pyriformis, Caryocar amygdaliferum, Cedrela odorata, Ceiba pentandra, Cordia gerascanthus, Hymenea courbaril, Miroxylon balsamum, Ochroma lagopus, Schyzolobium parahybum, Tabebuia rosea and many more. Several forests strata may be distinguished, and like Darien forests, palms dominate the sub canopy. Vines and epiphytes are also well represented with some 150 epiphytic orchid species recorded. Others include local endemic heliconias like Heliconia laxa, H. lentiginosa, H. rigida and H. sanctae-theresae (Heliconiaceae). The undergrowth includes a rich diversity of species including a number of stunning orchids such as Cycnoches chlorochilon, Peristeria elata, Psychopsis papilio and the giant, local endemic Cattleya warscewiczii (Orchidaceae). 

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