Alan Lee A crisis is unfolding undocumented around us in the forests of southeastern Peru. Large emergent Dipteryx trees, locally known as Shihuahuaco, are disappearing from many areas of Amazonia as a result of extractive activities and agricultural expansion. The loss of Dipteryx trees, which can form a major component of the canopy at a local scale, has the potential to affect a host of faunal species. According to work done by the Tambopata Macaw Project, over 85% of Scarlet macaws Ara macao and Red-and-green macaws Ara chloropterus make their nests in this tree (Brightsmith, 2005). We need to help the growing populations of homeless birds in the forests of Tambopata. Basic Dipteryx Facts: Family: Leguminosae Scientific Name: Dipteryx micrantha Harms; previously known as Coumaruna micrantha (Harms) Ducke, or Coumaruna alata. Common name: Shihuahuaco, Ironwood. Description Dipteryx is a canopy emergent and has been found to reach a height of up to 60 m (Cintra and Horna, 1997) and a diameter of up to 173 cm (Cintra and Terborgh, 2000). It is slow growing with one of the densest woods in Amazonia. Individuals have been dated in excess of 1200 years (Chambers, 1998). Dipteryx trees occur in mature floodplain forest at a density from 0 to 6 per hectare. According Reynel et al. (2003), in their useful manual “Arboles utiles de la Amazonia Peruana”, the diameter of the trunk of a Shihuahuaco is between 50-150cm and measure between 20-35m in height. Older specimens can be a lot wider and higher. The trunks are cylindrical, with flared buttress roots that extend in some cases to well above 1m of the height of the trunk. The bark has lenticels, and is a grey rusty colour, with peeling bark that scales off to give the tree a hammered texture. The leaves are compound, from 13-30cm long. The rachis has a narrow wing (1-2mm wide), with 4-7 pairs of leaflets measuring 2-3.5cm. Leaflets are smooth with obtuse bases. The trees are found in the Amazonia region, generally below 700masl, in areas with constant rainfall as well as areas with seasonal rainfall. The tree is associated with primary forests on fertile and well drained clay or lime soils. Phenology, pollination and dispersalAlan Lee A crisis is unfolding undocumented around us in the forests of southeastern Peru. Large emergent Dipteryx trees, locally known as Shihuahuaco, are disappearing from many areas of Amazonia as a result of extractive activities and agricultural expansion. The loss of Dipteryx trees, which can form a major component of the canopy at a local scale, has the potential to affect a host of faunal species. According to work done by the Tambopata Macaw Project, over 85% of Scarlet macaws Ara macao and Red-and-green macaws Ara chloropterus make their nests in this tree (Brightsmith, 2005). We need to help the growing populations of homeless birds in the forests of Tambopata. Basic Dipteryx Facts: Family: Leguminosae Scientific Name: Dipteryx micrantha Harms; previously known as Coumaruna micrantha (Harms) Ducke, or Coumaruna alata. Common name: Shihuahuaco, Ironwood. Description Dipteryx is a canopy emergent and has been found to reach a height of up to 60 m (Cintra and Horna, 1997) and a diameter of up to 173 cm (Cintra and Terborgh, 2000). It is slow growing with one of the densest woods in Amazonia. Individuals have been dated in excess of 1200 years (Chambers, 1998). Dipteryx trees occur in mature floodplain forest at a density from 0 to 6 per hectare. According Reynel et al. (2003), in their useful manual “Arboles utiles de la Amazonia Peruana”, the diameter of the trunk of a Shihuahuaco is between 50-150cm and measure between 20-35m in height. Older specimens can be a lot wider and higher. The trunks are cylindrical, with flared buttress roots that extend in some cases to well above 1m of the height of the trunk. The bark has lenticels, and is a grey rusty colour, with peeling bark that scales off to give the tree a hammered texture. The leaves are compound, from 13-30cm long. The rachis has a narrow wing (1-2mm wide), with 4-7 pairs of leaflets measuring 2-3.5cm. Leaflets are smooth with obtuse bases. The trees are found in the Amazonia region, generally below 700masl, in areas with constant rainfall as well as areas with seasonal rainfall. The tree is associated with primary forests on fertile and well drained clay or lime soils. Phenology, pollination and dispersal Dipteryx flower after the onset of the rainy season in early November, and the fruiting period begins in June and lasts until July. Flowers are a purplish colour and hang in terminal panicles of 10-20cm. Each flower is about 1cm long, with calyx and corolla. Studies on Dipteryx panamensis show that the tree opens a few flowers each day over the duration of several months. Flowers are pollinated by medium and large sized bees capable of travelling long distances. Flowering patterns suggest that the tree needs to be cross pollinated. The fruits are distinctive: 3-6cm long 2-4cm wide woody, indehiscent and slightly flattened. Consumption and dispersal of Dipteryx seeds is concentrated in the dry season, August - September when few other tree species are fruiting, making them especially attractive to vertebrate seed consumers which rely on a few keystone species such as Dipteryx during the dry season. Each tree can produce between 1000 and 1500 fruits (Cintra and Terborgh, 2000). Fruit dispersal is mostly by bats (Artibeus jamaicensis, A.literuratus, Carollia spp.) that carry seeds to secure feeding roosts and consume the pulp. Some monkeys (e.g. Spider Monkeys Ateles spp.) and large rodents (Agoutis Dasyprocta sp. and Agouchys Myoprocta sp.) may also be dispersers. For D. panamensis it has been reported that parrots and parakeets feed on fallen seeds (CATIE, 1998). Uses The high quality wood is very hard and heavy, resistant and durable. It is used for “parquet” wood flooring and elements of construction where hard wood is needed like posts and tool handles. En some countries Cumarina is extracted from the seeds as a base for perfumes. Silvicultural information Dipteryx odorata produces 32 seeds/kg. Dipteryx panamensis 35-78 fruits/kg. D. panamensis can be planted directly into soil and then transferred in plastic bags for later processing. Water is essential. Seeds should be planted as soon as possible after harvesting. The mesocarp (pulp) needs to be removed to accelerate germination. Fruits can be buried in 5cm deep sand for 2 weeks and then later replanted at a shallower depth (1cm). Germination of D.odorata occurs 20-57 days after planting (although this can be up to 100 days). Seeds can not be maintained viable for a long time. Seed reproductive success can be up to 80%. Seedlings should be transplanted to plastic bags 15-22 days after germination. They reach 20-30cm after 130 days. They should be transplanted to their final destination once trees reach a meter in height or 2cm diameter. Initial growth may be improved by planting in alluvial soils with good drainage. Plants have been recorded growing 1m over a 3 year period under these conditions in the Tambopata. Status and Conservation Unfortunately, Dipteryx is now one of the most sort after hard woods from the tropics due to restrictions on use of Mahogany and Tropical Cedar. Its popularity is growing and so is demand. I conducted a week of monitoring of one supply line coming into Puerto Maldonado in south-eastern Peru and calculated that 300 trees a month are coming in just from the north. Possibly as many as 1000 are being cut down and brought to town each month for the timber industry. This does not include probably the same amount being cut and burnt where they are felled to be turned into charcoal. The situation is dire, and action is needed or the Amazon will loose a tree as emblematic to the rainforest as the baobabs of Africa – as magnificent and as old, source of stories and legends, and home to generations of parrots and macaws. The loss of this keystone tree will be catastrophic to macaw populations, but there is along way to go to provide alternative wood sources, charcoal and to obtain a protected status of this tree. Lets make a noise for this tree falling everyday unseen in the forests of Peru. References: BRIGHTSMITH, D. J. (2005) Parrot nesting in southeastern Peru: Seasonal patterns and keystone trees. Wilson Bulletin, 117, 296-305. CATIE (1998) Dipteryx panamensis (Pittier) Record & Mell. Nota tecnica sobre manejo de semillas forestales No 33 Proyecto PROSEFOR. Centro Agranomico de Investigacion y Enseñanza, Costa Rica. 2 pp. CHAMBERS, J. Q. (1998) Ancient trees in Amazonia. Nature, 391, 135-136. CINTRA, R. & HORNA, V. (1997) Seed and seedling survival of the palm Astrocaryum murumuru and the legume tree Dipteryx micrantha in gaps in Amazonian forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 13, 257-277. CINTRA, R. & TERBORGH, J. (2000) Forest microspatial heterogeneity and seed and seedling survival of the palm Astrocaryum murumuru and the legume Dipteryx micrantha in an Amazonian forest. Ecotropica, 6, 77-88. REYNEL, C., PENNINGTON, R. T., PENNINGTON, T. D., FLORES, C. & DAZA, A. (2003) Arboles utiles de la Amazonia Peruana, Tarea Grafica Educativa, Peru. Dipteryx flower after the onset of the rainy season in early November, and the fruiting period begins in June and lasts until July. Flowers are a purplish colour and hang in terminal panicles of 10-20cm. Each flower is about 1cm long, with calyx and corolla. Studies on Dipteryx panamensis show that the tree opens a few flowers each day over the duration of several months. Flowers are pollinated by medium and large sized bees capable of travelling long distances. Flowering patterns suggest that the tree needs to be cross pollinated. The fruits are distinctive: 3-6cm long 2-4cm wide woody, indehiscent and slightly flattened. Consumption and dispersal of Dipteryx seeds is concentrated in the dry season, August - September when few other tree species are fruiting, making them especially attractive to vertebrate seed consumers which rely on a few keystone species such as Dipteryx during the dry season. Each tree can produce between 1000 and 1500 fruits (Cintra and Terborgh, 2000). Fruit dispersal is mostly by bats (Artibeus jamaicensis, A.literuratus, Carollia spp.) that carry seeds to secure feeding roosts and consume the pulp. Some monkeys (e.g. Spider Monkeys Ateles spp.) and large rodents (Agoutis Dasyprocta sp. and Agouchys Myoprocta sp.) may also be dispersers. For D. panamensis it has been reported that parrots and parakeets feed on fallen seeds (CATIE, 1998). Uses The high quality wood is very hard and heavy, resistant and durable. It is used for “parquet” wood flooring and elements of construction where hard wood is needed like posts and tool handles. En some countries Cumarina is extracted from the seeds as a base for perfumes. Silvicultural information Dipteryx odorata produces 32 seeds/kg. Dipteryx panamensis 35-78 fruits/kg. D. panamensis can be planted directly into soil and then transferred in plastic bags for later processing. Water is essential. Seeds should be planted as soon as possible after harvesting. The mesocarp (pulp) needs to be removed to accelerate germination. Fruits can be buried in 5cm deep sand for 2 weeks and then later replanted at a shallower depth (1cm). Germination of D.odorata occurs 20-57 days after planting (although this can be up to 100 days). Seeds can not be maintained viable for a long time. Seed reproductive success can be up to 80%. Seedlings should be transplanted to plastic bags 15-22 days after germination. They reach 20-30cm after 130 days. They should be transplanted to their final destination once trees reach a meter in height or 2cm diameter. Initial growth may be improved by planting in alluvial soils with good drainage. Plants have been recorded growing 1m over a 3 year period under these conditions in the Tambopata. Status and Conservation Unfortunately, Dipteryx is now one of the most sort after hard woods from the tropics due to restrictions on use of Mahogany and Tropical Cedar. Its popularity is growing and so is demand. I conducted a week of monitoring of one supply line coming into Puerto Maldonado in south-eastern Peru and calculated that 300 trees a month are coming in just from the north. Possibly as many as 1000 are being cut down and brought to town each month for the timber industry. This does not include probably the same amount being cut and burnt where they are felled to be turned into charcoal. The situation is dire, and action is needed or the Amazon will loose a tree as emblematic to the rainforest as the baobabs of Africa – as magnificent and as old, source of stories and legends, and home to generations of parrots and macaws. The loss of this keystone tree will be catastrophic to macaw populations, but there is along way to go to provide alternative wood sources, charcoal and to obtain a protected status of this tree. Lets make a noise for this tree falling everyday unseen in the forests of Peru. References: BRIGHTSMITH, D. J. (2005) Parrot nesting in southeastern Peru: Seasonal patterns and keystone trees. Wilson Bulletin, 117, 296-305. CATIE (1998) Dipteryx panamensis (Pittier) Record & Mell. Nota tecnica sobre manejo de semillas forestales No 33 Proyecto PROSEFOR. Centro Agranomico de Investigacion y Enseñanza, Costa Rica. 2 pp. CHAMBERS, J. Q. (1998) Ancient trees in Amazonia. Nature, 391, 135-136. CINTRA, R. & HORNA, V. (1997) Seed and seedling survival of the palm Astrocaryum murumuru and the legume tree Dipteryx micrantha in gaps in Amazonian forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 13, 257-277. CINTRA, R. & TERBORGH, J. (2000) Forest microspatial heterogeneity and seed and seedling survival of the palm Astrocaryum murumuru and the legume Dipteryx micrantha in an Amazonian forest. Ecotropica, 6, 77-88. REYNEL, C., PENNINGTON, R. T., PENNINGTON, T. D., FLORES, C. & DAZA, A. (2003) Arboles utiles de la Amazonia Peruana, Tarea Grafica Educativa, Peru.
