Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

14 Billa Pie
Figure 2.2 The large-leaf variety is distinguished by
shiny, light green and thin leaves with puckered leaf
veins.
Figure 2.3 The small-leafvariety is noted for its prolific
seeding and shiny, dark green leaves with a reddish
pubescence on new growth.
annual rainfall 1200-2000 mm)
and the humid plains near sea
level, located near Cayes and
Cap-Ha"itien. These areas fall
mostly within the subtropical
humid forest zone. In several
areas of Haiti, the natural range
of the large-leaf variety overlaps
with the range of the
small-leaf variety, notably the
mountain areas of southern
Haiti and the Central Plateau.
The long-leaf variety seems to
be much rarer, definitely less
cultivated, occurring in the lesspopulated
higher and perhumid
ranges along the southeastern
and northern mountain
chains. It is a canopy species of
the broad-leaved forests above
1000 m elevation and 2000 mm
annual rainfall.
Tree Characteristics: The
large-leaf variety of C.
arborescens grows to 26 m,
with stem diameters averaging
20-30 em and rarely larger than
50 em. Stem form is straight
with primary forks, if present,
at two-thirds total tree height.
The new growth of the horizontal
branches is regularly spaced
and sparse, projecting a light
shade to understory crops. The
average crown width:stem
diameter ratio is 30, with crown
closures of mature stem diameters
occurring at 200 trees ha- I .
The large-leaf variety is the
preferred variety as a result of
its greater merchantable height,
faster growth, lighter shade,
self-pruning and less weedy
nature (Fig. 2.4). However, this
advantage is less evident on the