Talk:Cecropia

Number of species
John Longino says that there are more than 100 species of Cecropia trees. Is the figure of 25 species accurate? []

Class Assignment
As part of a project for my class, I was assigned to edit this page. I added some changes that I was thinking of making below, please comment on accuracy and relevancy, thank you! Gkw11 (talk) 18:32, 26 November 2011 (UTC)

Introduction: Cecropia is a Neotropical genus of more than 100 species in a highly distinctive lineage of dioecious trees. It has been placed in the Cecropiaceae, Moraceae (the mulberry family), or Urticaceae (the nettle family). The modern Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system places the "cecropiacean" group in the Urticaceae in which it is a genus of about 25 different species. They are native to the tropical Americas, where they form one of the most recognizable components of the rainforest. The genus is named after Cecrops I, the mythical first king of Athens. A common local name is yarumo or yagrumo, or more specifically yagrumo hembra ("female yagrumo") to distinguish them from the similar-looking but unrelated Schefflera (which are called yagrumo macho, "male yagrumo"). In English, these trees are occasionally called pumpwoods (though this may also refer to C. schreberiana specifically) or simply cecropias.

Description: The genus is easily identified by the large, circular, palmately lobed leaves, about 30–40 cm in diameter and deeply divided into 7-11 lobes. In Costa Rica, the reason three-toed sloths are often found in Cecropia trees is that they are easier to spot in the open, leafless branches compared with other trees. They are terrestrial or hemi-epiphytic woody plants with stilt-roots.

Classification: Kingdom: Plantae – Plants Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons Subclass: Hamamelididae Order: Urticales Family: Cecropiaceae – Cecropia family Genus: Cecropia Loefl. - pumpwood

Habitat and Distribution: The Neotropical genus Cecropia is the largest genus of the family Cecropiaceae, with 61 species known. The genus represents an important group of pioneer trees in arid and less humid regions, although some species do grow in montane forest. Most species of Cecropia are lowland species occurring from sea-level to 1,300 meter altitude, while submontane species occupy an altitudinal range from 1,300-2,000 m, and montane species are found in cloud forest from 2,000-2,600 m. Many species have a narrow altitudinal and ecological amplitudeniche, with certain species specializing in specific habitats, such as seasonally inundated habitats, rocky slopes, swamps, natural or man-made clearings, etc. All species produce adventitious roots, which later become prop roots, and are commonly manifested in larger individuals growing near rivers or marshy areas. Species in the genus Cecropia are some of the most abundant pioneer tree species in natural tree fall gaps inside primary forests. Its geographic distribution extends along the Pacific and Atlantic Mexican coasts and in Central and South American forests and are found over an elevation range of 0 to 2,600 meters. Cecropia species are among the most abundant pioneers of other neotropical forests It is native to the neotropics and occurs as an introduced exotic plant elsewhere. In most low-elevation, wet regions of the neotropics, Cecropia trees are ubiquitous and important invaders of man-made clearings.

Reproduction: Cecropia species are dioecious, with staminate and pistillate flowers on separate trees. The pollen in Cecropia species is dry and thus easily released by movement. Although the principle pollination of this genus is by wind, insects such as flies and small beetles have also been observed transporting pollen. Full-grown Cecropia trees can produce up to a million seeds, and this regular presence of fruits allows this genus to play a major role in the ecosystem. It is often the keystone food supply for frugivorous animals, such as birds, fruit bats, monkeys, opossums, and even fish. In the Neotropics, toucans and other birds help disperse the seeds of species with short infructescences, while bats are associated with species with long peduncles and spikes. Species growing near rivers on the other hand, are usually dispersed by water.

Human Use: The wood from Cecropia trees is used by local people mainly to making make musical instruments and tool handles. Flutes and guitars are commonly made of Cecropia wood. In addition, the wood is used for production of matches and cheap boxes. An attempt was made to use the wood to produce paper but the wood pulp was too high in resin and it was not suitable. The main human-use of Cecropia trees is planting them in soil erosion prone areas. The trees make few demands on the soil and grow very quickly. The trees are used in clear-cut areas because they retain the soil, create new biomass and allow other types of plants to settle in the area. The fibers of the bark can be twisted into rope and the ropes are manufactured for bowstrings and hammocks. The leaves can also be burned and the aches mixed in with roasted and powdered coca leaves to be placed between the cheek and gum under the tongue as “dip”. Gkw11 (talk) 18:44, 26 November 2011 (UTC)