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Family: Bombacaceae
cedro espino, more...cedro espinoso
[Bombacopsis quinata (Jacq.) Dugand, moreBombax nicoyense Pittier, Pochota fendleri (Seem.) W. S. Alverson & M. C. Duarte, Pochota quinata (Jacq.) W. D. Stevens] |
Description: A tall tree with a large trunk and fairly large buttresses. Small and mid-sized individuals have sharp spines, slightly curved at the tip; in large trees, spines can be sparse, but there are usually at least some present. The crown is fairly open and with only a single layer of leaves, so much light penetrates it. Leaves are alternate, palmately-compound, with 5 or 7 leaflets which have small teeth. Reproduction: Completely leafless during the dry season, when the large white flowers are produced. Flowers have long, narrow petals and a dense clump of equally long stamen within. The fruit is an elongated capsule which splits open into 5 valves to release the tiny seeds, each of which is covered with fine, cotton-like hairs that float in the breeze. Distribution: Mostly a dry zone species of forests around Panama City and on limestone rock near the Madden Dam and at Sherman. Mostly uncommon, and very rare at Barro Colorado, but it is fairly numerous above the Indian village in Gamboa and at the limestone sites. Very scarce as a sapling, since it requires large forest clearings, and usually only encountered as a large tree in the forest. It probably used to be more common around Panama City, as it is frequently harvested for the timber. Similar Species: Leaves and resemble those of four other large Bombacaceae, but the five are easy to learn. LK ceibpe Ceiba pentandra LK2 also has spines, but only as a juvenile, and the leaflets are narrow and pointed. LK pse1se Pseudobombax septenatum, LK2 LK pochse Pachira sessilis, LK2 and LK pochaq Pachira aquatica LK2 never have trunk spines, and the leaves - although similar in shape - lack teeth. Pachira quinata is still better known by its old Latin name, Bombacopsis quinata, or by Pochota quinata. Uses: After the LK swiema mahogany LK2 and the LK cedrod Spanish cedar, LK2 this is probably the best known and most valuable native timber. It is also the only Panamanian tree that is often planted in plantation, where it grows quite well. Descripción: Árbol de 20 a 40 m de alto. Copa redondeada y con follaje disperso. Tronco fuertemente armado con espinas cónicas y con raíces tablares bien desarrolladas en la base. Las espinas tienen la punta aguda y arqueada. En plantas juveniles el tronco se bifurca en tres ramas principales y ascendentes. Corteza exterior gris o marrón. Hojas digitadas y alternas, con 5-7 folíolos, de 8-14 x 3-8 cm, oblanceolados a obovados, con ápice acuminado, bordes enteros o dentados y base aguda. Estípulas deciduas. Pecíolo de 5-15 cm de largo y ligeramente acanalado en la parte superior. Flores blancas y con muchos estambres. Frutos en cápsulas oblongas, de 5-8 cm de largo, verdes, tornándose amarillentos y dehiscentes en cinco valvas al madurar. Semillas envueltas en una capa de pelos algodonosos. Datos Ecológicos: La especie crece a bajas elevaciones, en lugares secos o húmedos. Común y ampliamente distribuida en bosques y áreas secas de Panamá. A veces crece en suelos de roca calcárea. Deja caer sus hojas durante la estación seca, pero las repone a inicios de la estación lluviosa. Florece y fructifica de enero a mayo. Las flores son visitadas por abejas, aves y murciélagos. Las semillas son dispersadas por el viento. Especies Parecidas: A menudo se confunde con LK ceibpe Ceiba pentandra LK2, pero en C. pentandra los folíolos son más estrechos y las espinas no tienen la punta aguda y arqueada como ocurre en P.quinata. Usos: La madera es empleada en la fabricación de muebles finos, puertas, marcos para ventanas, canoas, cajas, chapas y tableros de partículas. Con las flores se prepara un remedio para calmar la tos. Los pelos algodonosos del fruto se usaron en el pasado para rellenar almohadas. Es una de las especies nativas empleadas con mucho éxito en programas de reforestación en tierras bajas y secas. Bocas Species Database Distribution: This tree is found in the subtropical deciduous forests of Central America. Characteristics: Tree. |