Magnolia guatapensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Magnolia guatapensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Magnoliaceae |
| Genus: | Magnolia |
| Section: | Magnolia sect. Talauma |
| Subsection: | Magnolia subsect. Dugandiodendron |
| Species: | M. guatapensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Magnolia guatapensis (Lozano) Govaerts | |
Magnolia guatapensis is a species of plant in the family Magnoliaceae. It is endemic to Colombia. Common names include: almanegra, almanegra de Guatapé.
The tree can be reaching up to 34 m height and 37 cm in diameter. The wood presents fine texture and yellow-green color, the color of the grain varies from black to olive green. Leaves are alternate, simple, spirally arranged, oval, texture varies from papiracea to chartaceous, with slightly emarginated apex, linear scars caused by prefoliation/vernation. The top of the leaf is shiny and the bottom is covered by indumentum (cream colored, very short) and is also present on the twigs internodes. Terminal flowers, hermaphrodites; floral buds are covered by spataceous bracts; present 3 sepals, one is external, the next one is intern-external and the third one is totally internal. It has 10 obovate fleshy petals colored yellowish green. Woody fruit, elliptic, green color, measuring from 3 to 4 cm long and from 2,4 to 2,8 cm broad; the carpels split open irregularly. Each fruit contains around from 13 to 20 seeds and some of them might not be completely formed. [2][3][4]
Habitat and local distribution
It is endemic of Antioquia State, Colombia, it can be found in two localities of the central Andes, in the east plateau (altiplano) and in the north plateau (altiplano), between 1.800 and 2.300 m of elevation. It occurs in humid montane forests and humid pre-montane forests. Usually it can be found dispersed in small forest patches or as lonely trees on pasture lands. It was reported in Angostura, Valdivia and Yarumal Municipalities.[4]
Uses
It has been widely used in carpentry and woodworking, furniture making, floor, beams. It has great potential for ornamental uses.[4]
Conservation
It is listed in the category "Endangered" (EN) in the Red Book of Plants of Colombia.[5] and also as "Endangered" (EN) by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.This is due to the species occurrence in an area smaller than 5.000 km2 and which is reducing due to land clearing for agriculture and cattle grazing.[4]
Reproductive phenology
Magnolia guatapensis produces flower buds almost along the whole year, presenting higher production at the beginning of the rainy season in April and May. According to monitoring activities, a high percentage of flower buds are aborted before becoming a flower. Fruit formation derived from the few remained flowers can take from 4 to 5 months. Although throughout the year the presence of flowers and fruits are observed in different stages of formation, harvest is done during the months of high rainfall such as August and September. [4]