Alfaroa costaricensis

Alfaroa costaricensis, also known as campano chile, chiciscua, gaulin, gavilán Colorado,[1] or gavilancillo, is nut bearing timber tree in the Juglandaceae family. It is native to the Neotropics, from Mexico, through Central America to Colombia.

Alfaroa costaricensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Juglandaceae
Genus: Alfaroa
Species:
A. costaricensis
Binomial name
Alfaroa costaricensis

Habitat

Alfaroa costaricensis normally grows in cloudy areas on well-drained soils with slopes of 5% or more at elevations between 600 and 2200 m which receive 1500–2500 mm of precipitation and sustain temperatures of 15 to 20 °C. This tree does not grow well in the shade.

Description

Alfaroa costaricensis is a slow growing tree with pink heartwood. It can reach 27 m in height and 60 cm diameter at breast height (d.b.h.).[2]

The seed is a nut, one-chambered at the apex and eight-chambered at the base, which measures 1.6 to 2.5 cm long and 1.4 to 1.6 cm in diameter, and is protected by a hard, thick, brown pericarp. Germination is hypogeal. The leaves are pinnately compound, and are distinguishable from other species by their heavy pubescence. The male inflorescences is a panicle, consisting of approximately ten catkins arranged alternately. The female flowers are sessile on a catkin.[3]

Uses

Timber

Alfaroa costaricensis wood is attractive but difficult to saw and finish. It is used for furniture, posts, building lumber, and the production of charcoal.[2]

Wildlife food

Rodents consume many nuts.

References
  1. Giddy, Ian. (2004). Alfaroa costaricensis (Gualín, campano chile) Archived 2009-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. Cloudbridge.
  2. Arnáez, E.; Moreira, I. (2002). "Alfaroa costaricensis Standl.". In Vozzo, J.A. (ed.). Tropical tree seed manual - Part II, Species descriptions (A to C). Agriculture Handbook. 721. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service.
  3. A picture of a female inflorescence can be found at Alfaroa costaricensis PlantSystematics.org. A line drawing of a branch with leaves and of female flowers can be found in Arnáez, E.; Moreira, I. (2002). "Alfaroa costaricensis Standl.". In Vozzo, J.A. (ed.). Tropical tree seed manual - Part II, Species descriptions (A to C). Agriculture Handbook. 721. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service.. A picture of a complete tree can be found at Cloudbridge Archived 2009-04-02 at the Wayback Machine.
  • Manos, P. S., and Stone, D. E., "Evolution, Phylogeny, and Systematics of the Juglandaceae", Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, '88(2) 2001, 231-269.
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