Magnolia polyhypsophylla

Magnolia polyhypsophylla
Magnolia polyhypsophylla
Conservation status

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Magnoliaceae
Genus: Magnolia
Species: M. polyhypsophylla
Binomial name
Magnolia polyhypsophylla
(Lozano) Govaerts

Magnolia polyhypsophylla is a species of plant in the Magnoliaceae family. It is endemic to Colombia. Common names include: Magnolio de monte, almanegra, almanegra de ventanas.

Description

They are trees reaching up to 25 m height and 80 cm in diameter. The bark is grey with darker grain indefinite. Leaves alternate, simple, light green petiole tinged with burgundy color with overlying scar; foliar bud relatively short, acute, glabrous. The leaf blade is elliptical, chartaceous consistency, light bright green colored on the top, pale green on the bottom, prominent median nerve on the bottom. The flowers are generally solitary at the end of the branches, have three obovate cream colored sepals, truncate at the base and apiculate at apex; six green petals – yellow obovate, assimetric, thick. The fruits are elliptic and assimetric, from 6,6 to 7 cm long and 2,6-3 cm in diameter; they open irregularly by detachment of the carpels. Each carpel has from 1 to 2 seeds; it has been found from 10 to 19 seeds per fruit, some were not completely formed. The seeds have a fleshy scarlet red aromatic cover, with characteristic odor.[1][2][3]

Habitat and distribution

This is an endemic specie of Antioquia department, grows in humid and very humid forests in pre-montane and low montane in a region known as Alto de Ventanas between the municipalities of Briceño, Valdívia and Yarumal. It is a canopy tree and can be found on grazing lands and on the edge of small forest fragments using for protection of water courses. It is distributed from 1’800 to 2’600 m.a.s.l..[3]

Uses

This specie has being used as saw timber and for furniture and wood beams. The specie also has potential do be used as ornamental.[3]

Current situation

It is listed in category “Critically Endangered” (CR) in the Red Book of Plants of Colombia[4] due to its presence is limited to only one locality smaller than 100 km2. Additionally, their habitat is fragmented and degraded by land clearing for pasture establishment for dairy farming.[3]

Breeding Phenology

M. polyhypsophylla presents constant production of flower buds along the year, but very few ever open flower and even fewer amount produce fruits due to high percentage of abortion. The fruits under formation are scarce and, like the flowers, dispersed in time; additionally, some of them fall or make premature dehiscence. Fruit collection should be done during the months of August, September and November. During this time higher amount of fruits can be found. The fruits take around 5 to 6 months to complete its development and maturation.[3]

Seed management, sexual propagation and nursery production

Fruit and seed description

The fruits are elliptic and assimetric, measuring from 6,6 to 7 cm long and from 2,6 to 3 cm in diameter; the carpels split open irregularly. Each carpel has from 1 to 2 seeds; it was found 10-19 seeds per fruit, some not fully developed. The seeds have a fleshy scarlet red aromatic cover; once the cover is removed the surface found is harder, smooth, and brown to black color. The seeds present a triangular shape, measuring between 8,8 and 12,7 mm wide, from 7,5 to 11,2 mm height and from4,2 to 5,7 mm thick. 1’000 seeds can weight from 160 to 400 grams and one kilogram can contain between 2’500 to 6’250 seeds.[3]

Collecting and processing the fruits

Fruit harvest should be made during August, September and November, which are the months of higher precipitation. The fruits should be collected directly from the trees before their dehiscence and release the seeds. If not possible, fruits can be collected from the soil taking care to discard the fruits and/or seeds showing signs of decay or insect attack. Another effective method for collection consists of climbing the canopy and take the seeds directly from the open fruits or collecting ripe fruits that are still closed to ripen off the plant and thereby control de process of dehiscence. In order to protect the fruits from rodent attack and succeed to reach complete development, an individual box can be built using wire and plastic mesh (with mesh size of 1 mm or less); predation, fruit and seed loss post-dehiscence is prevented. Once fruits start dehiscence, the fruits are collected manually (climbing the trees) or using an extension pruning pole. When fruits collected are still closed, they have to be let to post-mature in the shade until they dehiscence, then the seeds are extracted and separated those with the bright red sarcotesa, which means they are fully ripe. In order to clean the seeds and remove the sarcotesa, they should be put in water overnight, macerated and rinsed with running water.[3]

Seed storage

In accordance with previous studies it is not advisable to keep the seeds, because they are very sensitive to the desiccation. Nevertheless, if it is not possible to proceed to the sowing immediately we can keep it in the fridge for few days with the red sarcotesta in a closed container with sawdust.[3]

Sowing and germination

Before sowing, it is advisable to stir the sarcotesta of the seeds, clean it with running water and emerge it into a solution of 1% sodium hypochlorite during 15 minutes to avoid fungal infestations. Theses seeds do not require any pre-germination treatment and if they are sowed in a mix of soil and sand (2:1 proportion) and exposed to the sunlight could have an average germination capacity of 72,5%, and could oscillate between 60 and 90 %. Germination starts between 56 and 63 days after sowing and is completed 79 days after. When seeds germinate under shade using the same substratum the average germination capacity is 75% and oscillates between 40 and 100%, stars 48 to 56 days after sowing and is completed 76 days after. The germination is epigeous.[3]

Handling of seedlings in nursery

For a better dissemination It is recommendable to use a mix of soil and sand in 2:1 proportion. Once seedlings reached 4 to 5 cm of height we can move it to a bag. It is important to replant the material rapidly if the dissemination was done under shade, like this we reduce physiological problems, as forming of mould. When seedlings reach 25 cm of height and have been hardened at least a little, we can consider that they are ready to be planted definitively at the field.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Velásquez R., C. y Serna G., M. 2005. Magnoliáceas de Antioquia. Jardín Botánico Joaquín Antonio Uribe - CORANTIOQUIA - OIMT. Primera Edición. Medellín, Colombia. 32 p.
  2. ↑ Losano C., G. 1983. Magnoliaceae. Flora de Colombia, Monografía No. 1. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia - COLCIENCIAS. Bogotá. 120p.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Trujillo, L.; Agudelo, G.; Restrepo, M.; Cardona, E.; Murillo, J..Avances en la estrategia para la conservación de las especies de las familia Magnoliaceae en Jurisdición de CORANTIOQUIA, Medellín: CORANTIOQUIA, 2011 100.p. (Boletín Técnico Biodiversidad; No. 6, Diciembre 2011)
  4. ↑ Calderón S., E.; A. Cogollo P; C. Velásquez R.; M. Serna G. y N. García.2007. Las magnoliáceas. Pp. 45-154. En: García, N. (ed.). Libro Rojo de Plantas de Colombia. Volumen 5: Las magnoliáceas, las miristicáceas y las podocarpáceas. Serie Libros Rojos de Especies Amenazadas de Colombia. Bogotá, Colombia. Instituto Alexander von Humboldt - CORANTIOQUIA - Jardín Botánico Joaquín Antonio Uribe- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial. 236 p.

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