Afrocarpus: Difference between revisions
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'''''Afrocarpus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[conifer]]s belonging to the family [[Podocarpaceae]]. ''Afrocarpus'' was designated a genus in 1989, when several species formerly classified in ''[[Podocarpus]]'' and ''[[Nageia]]'' were reclassified. <ref name="page1989"> Christopher N. Page. 1989. "New and maintained genera in the conifer families Podocarpaceae and Pinaceae". ''Notes of the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh'' 45(2): 377-395. </ref> |
'''''Afrocarpus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[conifer]]s belonging to the family [[Podocarpaceae]]. Two to six [[species]] are recognized. They are evergreen trees native to Africa. ''Afrocarpus'' was designated a genus in 1989, when several species formerly classified in ''[[Podocarpus]]'' and ''[[Nageia]]'' were reclassified. <ref name="page1989"> Christopher N. Page. 1989. "New and maintained genera in the conifer families Podocarpaceae and Pinaceae". ''Notes of the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh'' 45(2): 377-395. </ref> |
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== Description == |
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''Afrocarpus'' are [[evergreen]] [[tree]]s. The individuals of the largest species, ''[[Afrocarpus falcatus]]'',<ref name=earle>{{cite web| url = http://www.conifers.org/po/Afrocarpus.php | title = ''Afrocarpus'' | last = Earle | first = Christopher J. | date = 2012 | website = The Gymnosperm Database, conifers.org | accessdate = April 13, 2016}}</ref> may reach a height of 60 meters.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.conifers.org/po/Afrocarpus_falcatus.php | title = ''Afrocarpus falcatus'' | last = Earle | first = Christopher J. | date = 2015 | website = The Gymnosperm Database, conifers.org | accessdate = April 13, 2016}}</ref> The thin bark often peels with scale-like plates.<ref name=farjon>{{cite book | last = Farjon | first = Aljos | date = 2010 |title = A Handbook of the World's Conifers | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nqkKTQcGOtYC | location = Leiden | publisher = Brill | page = 136 | isbn = 9789004177185 }}</ref> |
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The [[Leaf|leaves]] are simple and flat. The [[phyllotaxis]] or leaf arrangement is usually spiral but may be opposite on young plants.<ref name=farjon/> The leaves are generally lanceolate in shape and coriaceous in texture. They have a single visible midrib. [[Stoma]]ta are found on both surfaces of the leaf.<ref name=farjon/><ref name=earle/> |
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''Afrocarpus'' are [[Dioecy|dioecious]], with male pollen cones and female seed cones borne on separate individual plants. The [[Conifer cone|cones]] are short pedunculate and usually develop from axillary buds.<ref name=farjon/> |
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The male pollen cones are narrowly cylindrical and resemble [[catkin]]s. They grow in small groups of two or three cones. The peduncles are glabrous. Each pollen cone has numerous spirally inserted microsporophylls each with two basal pollen sacs producing bisaccate pollen.<ref name=farjon/> |
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The female seed cones are solitary. Their peduncles may have small scale leaves. The cones consist of several sterile cone scales and one fertile cone scale with just one seed producing ovule. The sterile scales wither as the cone matures, unlike in the closely related genus ''[[Podocarpus]]'' where the scales fuse to form a fleshy receptacle. A part of the scale supporting the ovule develops into a rounded fleshy covering enclosing the seed entirely known as the epimatium. At maturity the epimatium varies in shape from subglobose to elliptic or obovoid and in color from greenish to yellow or brown.<ref name=farjon/><ref name=earle/> |
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== Distribution == |
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| ⚫ | As the name intimates, ''Afrocarpus'' is native to [[Africa]]. The species are distributed through the [[Afromontane]] forests of eastern and southern Africa, descending to the [[Indian Ocean]] coast in [[South Africa]]. The genus is native to [[Burundi]], [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], [[Ethiopia]], [[Kenya]], [[Malawi]], [[Mozambique]], [[Rwanda]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], South Africa, [[Swaziland]], [[Tanzania]] and [[Uganda]].<ref name=farjon/><ref name=earle/> |
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The podocarps are associated with the ancient supercontinent of [[Gondwana]], where they were characteristic of the cool, moist southern Gondwana flora. Gondwana broke up into the continents of [[South America]], [[Africa]], [[India]], [[Australia]], and [[Antarctica]] between 160 and 30 million years ago. As Africa drifted north, it became hotter and drier, and the podocarps generally retreated to the cool, moist highlands of eastern and southern Africa. |
The podocarps are associated with the ancient supercontinent of [[Gondwana]], where they were characteristic of the cool, moist southern Gondwana flora. Gondwana broke up into the continents of [[South America]], [[Africa]], [[India]], [[Australia]], and [[Antarctica]] between 160 and 30 million years ago. As Africa drifted north, it became hotter and drier, and the podocarps generally retreated to the cool, moist highlands of eastern and southern Africa. |
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== Uses == |
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In South Africa, this wood is mostly used to make exclusive furniture. |
In South Africa, this wood is mostly used to make exclusive furniture. |
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Revision as of 19:09, 13 April 2016
| Afrocarpus | |
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| Afrocarpus gracilior | |
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| Genus: | Afrocarpus |
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| Afrocarpus falcatus | |
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Afrocarpus dawei | |
Afrocarpus is a genus of conifers belonging to the family Podocarpaceae. Two to six species are recognized. They are evergreen trees native to Africa. Afrocarpus was designated a genus in 1989, when several species formerly classified in Podocarpus and Nageia were reclassified. [1]
Description
Afrocarpus are evergreen trees. The individuals of the largest species, Afrocarpus falcatus,[2] may reach a height of 60 meters.[3] The thin bark often peels with scale-like plates.[4]
The leaves are simple and flat. The phyllotaxis or leaf arrangement is usually spiral but may be opposite on young plants.[4] The leaves are generally lanceolate in shape and coriaceous in texture. They have a single visible midrib. Stomata are found on both surfaces of the leaf.[4][2]
Afrocarpus are dioecious, with male pollen cones and female seed cones borne on separate individual plants. The cones are short pedunculate and usually develop from axillary buds.[4]
The male pollen cones are narrowly cylindrical and resemble catkins. They grow in small groups of two or three cones. The peduncles are glabrous. Each pollen cone has numerous spirally inserted microsporophylls each with two basal pollen sacs producing bisaccate pollen.[4]
The female seed cones are solitary. Their peduncles may have small scale leaves. The cones consist of several sterile cone scales and one fertile cone scale with just one seed producing ovule. The sterile scales wither as the cone matures, unlike in the closely related genus Podocarpus where the scales fuse to form a fleshy receptacle. A part of the scale supporting the ovule develops into a rounded fleshy covering enclosing the seed entirely known as the epimatium. At maturity the epimatium varies in shape from subglobose to elliptic or obovoid and in color from greenish to yellow or brown.[4][2]
Distribution
As the name intimates, Afrocarpus is native to Africa. The species are distributed through the Afromontane forests of eastern and southern Africa, descending to the Indian Ocean coast in South Africa. The genus is native to Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda.[4][2]
The podocarps are associated with the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana, where they were characteristic of the cool, moist southern Gondwana flora. Gondwana broke up into the continents of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica between 160 and 30 million years ago. As Africa drifted north, it became hotter and drier, and the podocarps generally retreated to the cool, moist highlands of eastern and southern Africa.
Uses
In South Africa, this wood is mostly used to make exclusive furniture.
Taxonomy
Afrocarpus gaussenii was based on a single specimen of a cultivated individual of Afrocarpus falcatus in Madagascar. Its distinctive features might have resulted from the conditions of its cultivation. No species of Afrocarpus is known to be native to Madagascar. [5]
In a recent treatment of Afrocarpus, only two species were recognized; A. dawei, A. gracilior, and A. usambarensis were sunk into A. falcatus. The reason for this merger was that "variation across the group appears to be essentially continuous". [5]
Species
- Afrocarpus dawei is native to the highlands of east Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Congo.
- Afrocarpus falcatus, commonly known as the Outeniqua yellowwood, is a tall tree, generally 10-25 m high, but growing up to 60 m. It is native to montane forests of South Africa, from Swellendam District of Western Cape Province to Limpopo Province, and into southern Mozambique.
- Afrocarpus gaussenii is native to the eastern plateau of Madagascar.
- Afrocarpus gracilior, native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, is used in gardens as a tree, hedge, screen, or espalier; generally, it is sold as Podocarpus gracilior.
- Afrocarpus mannii is native to São Tomé Island in the Gulf of Guinea.
- Afrocarpus usambarensis is native to Burundi, Rwanda, the Congo, and Lushoto and Mbulu districts of Tanzania.
References
- ^ Christopher N. Page. 1989. "New and maintained genera in the conifer families Podocarpaceae and Pinaceae". Notes of the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh 45(2): 377-395.
- ^ a b c d Earle, Christopher J. (2012). "Afrocarpus". The Gymnosperm Database, conifers.org. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ Earle, Christopher J. (2015). "Afrocarpus falcatus". The Gymnosperm Database, conifers.org. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Farjon, Aljos (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Leiden: Brill. p. 136. ISBN 9789004177185.
- ^ a b James E. Eckenwalder. 2009. Conifers of the World. Timber Press: Portland, OR, USA. ISBN 978-0-88192-974-4.