Hura crepitans
|
Taxon |
Family |
|
Hura crepitans L. |
Euphorbiaceae |
 |
|
| The tree in its native habitat Credit: P Harmon |
Common names: Sandbox tree, monkey's dinner bell, monkey's pistol.
Synonyms: No information available.
Life form: Tree
Biology/Ecology:
Dispersal: Capsule explodes to disperse seed up to 14 metres away. Introduced by humans to Africa as a shade plant.
Reproduction: Fruits are capsules, 3 to 5 cm in length with a diameter of 5 to 8 cm. 16 carpels are arranged radially around the central axis. Seeds are flattened and 15 to 25 mm in diameter.
Herbivores: No information available.
Resistant stages: No information available.
Habitat:
Native habitat: Lowland tropical to subtropical moist forest.
Habitat occupied in invaded range: Bushland in Australia.
Habitat requirements:
| Altitude | No information available. |
| Light | Partial shade to full sun. Seeds can germinate in deep shade. |
| Temperature | No information available. |
| Annual rainfall | No information available. |
| Soil | Soil pH between 5 and 8. Moist, sandy or clay soils. |
Distribution:
Native to tropical America
Introduced range: Invasive in Australia and Tanzania. Introduced but not invasive in West Africa.
Impacts:
Ecosystem: Its large seeds can germinate and grow in deep shade, allowing the plant to invade undisturbed forest.
Health, social and economic: No information available.
Management:
Mechanical: No information available.
Chemical: No information available.
Biological: No information available.
References:
Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER), 2005. Available from http://www.hear.org/pier/species/hura_crepitans.htm (Accessed August 2006).
Swaine, M.D., Beer, T., 1977. Explosive Seed Dispersal in Hura crepitans L. (Euphorbiaceae). New Phytologist, Vol 78, No. 3, pp 695-708.
Last updated October 2006
