Castilla elastica
|
Taxon |
Family |
|
Castilla elastica Cerv. |
Moraceae |
 |
 |
| The tree in its native habitat Credit: R. Moran |
Huge number of seedlings in Samoa |
Common names: Panama rubber tree, Mexican rubber tree, uletree
Synonyms: Castilloa elastica Cerv.
Life form: Tree
Biology/Ecology:
Dispersal: Seeds spread by birds, monkeys and other mammals, as well as ants. Seeds are dispersed by animals feeding on the fruit. The plant has been introduced by humans for rubber production and as an ornamental.
Reproduction: The plant is androdioecious, with cosexes and male plants within the population. Flowers are unisexual, with male and female flowers produced on different inflorescences. Flowers are pollinated by thrips and are able to self-pollinate. Produces orange fruit, each containing many seeds.
Herbivores: The fruits are eaten by many species of bird, monkey and other mammals, as well as ants.
Resistant stages: No information available.
Habitat:
Native habitat: Rainforest
Habitat occupied in invaded range: Principally moist forests at low altitudes, also wetlands, riparian zones, shrublands, forest gaps, disturbed areas.
Habitat requirements:
| Altitude | No information available. |
| Light | No information available. |
| Temperature | No information available. |
| Annual rainfall | Between 1500 and 2500 mm |
| Soil | Medium fertility soils with pH of 5.5 to 7. Well drained but moist soil. |
Distribution:
Native to Central America, northern South America
Introduced range: Invasive in Tanzania, American Samoa, Hawaii, Samoa, French Polynesia and Australia. Introduced but not invasive in Puerto Rico.
Impacts:
Ecosystem: C. elastica can become established in undisturbed rainforest. It is one of the first plants to become established if there is a gap in the canopy, it is an aggressive pioneer plant and produces huge quantities of seed. However, the natural succession process may eventually shade the plant out, as the development of brushy areas around the trees seems to hinder seed germination.
Health, social and economic: The tree is used for rubber production, so is often economically important to local people.
Management:
Mechanical: No information available.
Chemical: 10% Garlon 600 in diesel oil can be sprayed onto seedlings and young trees.
Biological: No information available.
References:
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER), 2005. Available from http://www.hear.org/pier/species/castilla_elastica.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Sakai, S., 2001. Thrips pollination of androdioecious Castilla elastica (Moraceae) in a seasonal tropical forest. American Journal of Botany. 88: 1527-1534.
Cokeley, W., Paye, G., Roberts, C., Birdsall, D., 2000. Fruit Dispersal of Castilla elastica in secondary forest and a developed area of the La Selva Biological Preserve, Costa Rica. Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation.
Francis, J.K. and Liogier, H.A., 1991. Naturalized exotic tree species in Puerto Rico. General Technical Report SO-82. New Orleans, LA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station. 12 pp.
Last updated October 2006
