Cordia alliodora
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Taxon |
Family |
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Cordia alliodora Cham. |
Boraginaceae |
 |
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| Native habitat in South America Credit: J Evans |
Common names: Spanish elm, Ecuador laurel, laurel, cypre, salmwood
Synonyms: C. gerascanthus Jacq. (not C. gerascanthus L.), C. gerascanthus var. domingensis Cham., C. velutina Mart., C. alliodora var. glabra DC., C. gerascanthus var. subcanescens DC., C. gerascanthus sensu Griseb., C. gerascanthus forma martinicensis Chodat, C. gerascanthus forma micrantha Chodat, C. alliodora var.boliviana Chodat & Vischer., C. andina Chodat, C. chamissoniana var. complicata R. & P. ex Chodat., C. goudoti Chodat., C. macrantha Chodat., C. cerdana (R. & P.) R. & S., Cerdana alliodora R. & P., Varronia tuberosa S. & M., Lithocardium gerascanthus var. alliodorum Kuntze, Lithocardium alliodorum (R. & P.) Kuntze, and Lithocardium gerascanthus var. domingense (Cham.) Kuntze.
Life form: Tree
Biology/Ecology:
Dispersal: Seeds are wind dispersed, with the persistent corolla acting as a parachute for the seed. Sprouting occurs from lateral roots. The plant has the ability to coppice if damaged. Introduced by humans for use as a timber tree and an ornamental.
Reproduction: Reaches sexual maturity within 5 to 10 years in Costa Rica, in other areas the plant is reported to start flowering sometimes after two years, but more commonly after 4 or 5 years. A mature tree will produce flowers daily for 8 or 9 weeks. Produces hermaphroditic white flowers, about 1 cm in length. Pollination occurs by wind, Lepidoptera and possibly bees. Fruit is about 5 mm long, and enveloped by corolla and calyx tube. One tree may produce about one million seeds per year.
Herbivores/diseases: More than 212 different insects found on C. alliodora plants in Panama, but the plants rarely show signs of serious attack. The most significant herbivores include:
Diseases of C. alliodora include:
Resistant stages: Develops a strong taproot and large root system.
Habitat:
Native habitat: Tropical moist and tropical wet forest.
Habitat occupied in invaded range: Disturbed areas, moist forest.
Habitat requirements:
| Altitude | Less than 2000 metres above sea level in its native habitat, but more commonly found below 500 metres above sea level. |
| Light | Prefers full sun but tolerates some shade. |
| Temperature | Average annual temperature of around 24 to 27 degrees Celsius. |
| Annual rainfall | Between 600 and 6000 mm, with a dry season of up to seven months. |
| Soil | Intolerant of waterlogged soil. Prefers deep, well-drained, medium textured soils. Tolerant of low fertility soils. |
Distribution:
Native to Central America and northern South America
Introduced range: Invasive in Tanzania, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa and Galapagos Islands. Introduced but not invasive in some parts of tropical Africa, Fiji, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, West Indies and southeastern USA.
Impacts:
Ecosystem: The tree invades land adjacent to cultivation. It produces many seeds and regenerates easily. Rapidly and aggressively invades disturbed forest, often forming monotypic stands. It is a major weed of plantation forests. The plant is moderately fire resistant.
Health, social and economic: Often important to local people as a source of quality timber.
Management:
Mechanical: No information available.
Chemical: No information available.
Biological: No information available.
References:
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER), 2003. Available from http://www.hear.org/pier/species/cordia_alliodora.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Liegel, L.H. and Stead, J.W. Laurel, Capa Prieto. USDA Forest Service. Available from http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/cordia/alliodora.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Boshier, D.H. Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken. Oxford Forestry Institute. Available from http://www.rngr.net/Publications/ttsm/Folder.2003-07-11.4726/PDF.2004-01-12.0231/file (Accessed August 2006).
Edward, E., 2006. Population status and spread of Cordia alliodora in Amani Nature Reserve, Tanzania. Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Last updated October 2006
