| Chlorocardium | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Chlorocardium rodiei | |
Scientific classification
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: |
Chlorocardium Rohwer, H.G.Richt. & van der Werff |
| Species | |
Chlorocardium is a genus of the family Lauraceae. It contains only three species, C. esmeraldense, C. rodiei and C. venenosum, and is native to northern South America. The name Chlorocardium means green ( chloro-) heart ( cardia), referring to the wood.
They are trees up to 40 m high, mostly 30 m high, and are hermaphrodites. They are slow-growing canopy evergreen trees and have a valuable timber. The wood and bark are pleasantly scented. They are present in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and the Guiana Shield (in northeastern Brazil, Venezuela ( Amazonas, Bolívar and Delta Amacuro states), Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana).[ citation needed]
The species are heavily used by the timber industry. This causes a shortage of mature trees. Their timber is of great commercial value and much exploited, but C. rodiei is able to produce sprouts from more than 50% of stumps. [1]
Ecology
Trees of this genus grow in evergreen tropical forests. The ecological requirements are those of moisture precipitating almost continuously in cloud-cover for much of the year.
The fruit, a drupe, is an important food source for birds.
The common name in Guyana is greenheart or greenhart.
References
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"Regeneration through sprout formation in Chlorocardium rodiei (Lauraceae) in Guyana".
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External links
- Antarctic vessel the 'Hero' takes compression much better than steel. Built from green heart wood. "She's like a Sherman tank." Archived 30 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine [Portland Magazine. 8 November 2012]