Enterolobium cyclocarpum
| Enterolobium cyclocarpum | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enterolobium cyclocarpum |
||||||||||||
| Systematics | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Enterolobium cyclocarpum | ||||||||||||
| ( Jacq. ) Griseb. |
Enterolobium cyclocarpum is a species of plant in the subfamily of the mimosa family (Mimosoideae). It is common in Central and South America. The tree, called Guanacaste in the home countries, is the national tree of Costa Rica and the province of Guanacaste in the northwest of the country was named after it.
description
Vegetative characteristics
Enterolobium cyclocarpum grows as a large tree that reaches heights of up to 40 meters and a trunk diameter of up to 3.6 meters. It has a short stem and a very wide, supported by the horizontal branches of tree crown , wherein the crown diameter of 45 meters can be considered the natural height greater. The bark is gray and slightly scaly. Young branches have a green bark. The alternate leaves are bipinnate and 15 to 25 centimeters long.
Generative characteristics
The approximately 1 centimeter large flowers are yellowish white. With a diameter of 7 to 12 centimeters, the legumes are almost circular and resemble human ears.
ecology
Young guanacaste grow very quickly. After a year on the tree, the fruits fall to the ground without opening. They germinate at high temperatures and high humidity, or after the brief heat of a bush fire . The rare natural regeneration of today's Guanacaste stocks is explained by some scientists with the extinction of the large mammal fauna 10,000 years ago. These animals are said to have eaten the fruit and excreted the seeds undigested. Today, tapirs , umbilical pigs and Amazon parrots eat the seeds, but digest most of them.
Occurrence
The distribution area of the Guanacaste extends from northern Mexico through Central America to the northwest of Colombia , the north of Venezuela and the extreme northwest of Guyana . It grows mainly in the lowlands, near the Caribbean and Pacific , not in the mountains. Because of its shady, far-reaching crown, the Guanacaste was introduced as a park tree in other countries in South America and on the islands of the Caribbean.
The Guanacaste thrives in the lowlands and in the coastal region. In Costa Rica it only grows up to an altitude of 900 meters. It can withstand dry periods of one to six months. In the tropical rainforests of Central America, it belongs to the climax vegetation and is part of the main canopy at a height of 40 meters. It grows best on deep, slightly alkaline, calcareous soils .
use
The Guanacaste is of regional importance as a supplier of wood for furniture , veneers and construction timber. It is popular as a shade provider in parks, on roadsides and on pastures. An extract from the bark is said to help with colds and bronchitis .
literature
- Schütt, Weisgerber, Schuck: Trees of the Tropics , 2006, Nikol Verlagsges., ISBN 3-937873-79-1
