Chlorocardium
| Chlorocardium | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Chlorocardium Rohwer, H.G.Richt. & van der Werff |
| Species | |
Chlorocardium is a genus of the family Lauraceae. It contains only two species, C. rodiei and C. venenosum, and is native to northern South America. The name Chlorocardium means green (chloro-) heart (cardia), referring to the wood.
They are trees up to 40 m high, mostly 30 m high,and are hermaphrodites. They are slow-growing canopy evergreen trees and have a valuable timber. The wood and bark are pleasantly scented. They are present in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and the Guiana Shield (in northeastern Brazil, Venezuela (Amazonas, Bolívar and Delta Amacuro states), Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana).[citation needed]
The species are heavily used by the timber industry. This causes a shortage of mature trees. Their timber is of great commercial value and much exploited, but C. rodiei is able to produce sprouts from more than 50% of stumps.[1]
Ecology
They grow in evergreen tropical forests. They do not form large stands, but occur with a density of up to one individual per five hectares. The ecological requirements of the genus are those of moisture precipitating almost continuously in cloud-cover for much of the year.
The fruit, a drupe, is an important food source for birds.
The common name in Guyana is greenheart.
References
External links
- Antarctic vessel the 'Hero' takes compression much better than steel. Built from green heart wood. "She's like a Sherman tank." Portland Magazine. 8 November 2012]
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