Important Trees of Haiti
Important Trees of Haiti
Important Trees of Haiti
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Figure 2.4 The fast-growing, tall, straight, self-pruning<br />
stem <strong>of</strong> large-leaf varieties <strong>of</strong> C. arborescens is valued<br />
for beams and joists.<br />
Bwa Pie 1S<br />
drier, rocky sites <strong>of</strong> the lower<br />
el evations, particularly on<br />
the coastal and leeward<br />
slopes <strong>of</strong> mountain areas in<br />
<strong>Haiti</strong>. The leaves <strong>of</strong> C.<br />
arborescens are palatable to<br />
animals and damage IS<br />
extensive under free-grazing<br />
conditions. Basal sprouting<br />
occurs with the large-leaf<br />
variety in response to subhumid,<br />
droughty conditions<br />
(Fig. 2.5). This trait can be<br />
managed for mixed-aged<br />
stems by leaving a couple<br />
sprouts to develop in the<br />
shade <strong>of</strong> the main stem.<br />
The small-leaf variety<br />
rarely grows taller than 18<br />
m, limited by the harsher site<br />
conditions <strong>of</strong> its natural<br />
range. Stem diameters are<br />
generally less than 20 em.<br />
Adaptations to drierconditions<br />
are evident in the<br />
small-leaf variety, with its<br />
thicker leaves and heavier<br />
seeding. The crown is more<br />
compact than that <strong>of</strong> the<br />
large-leaf variety, with lateral<br />
branching occurring more frequently along the stem axis and extending further down<br />
the stem. Self-pruning is less evident and the shade cast by the crown is denser than the<br />
large-leaf variety. C. arborescens coppices when cut on short rotations.<br />
The heartwood is reddish-brown with a small proportion <strong>of</strong> lighter brown sapwood<br />
on mature stems. The wood is hard and heavy, with a specific gravity ranging from<br />
0.67--0.82 for samples taken from a 5-year-old stand in the Northwest. It seasons very<br />
hard so that sawing and nailing are difficult.<br />
The principal fruiting season <strong>of</strong> C. arborescens occurs from May tlU'ough July, with a<br />
smaller harvest from November through January. There are 50,000-65,000 seeds kg· l .<br />
Utilization: The most important use <strong>of</strong> C. arborescens is in house construction, where<br />
the timber is utilized in all parts <strong>of</strong> the structure (Fig. 2.6). Because the large-leaf variety<br />
provides one <strong>of</strong> the longest and straightest trunks <strong>of</strong>any <strong>of</strong> the lowland tree species,<br />
it is prized for joists, beams, ridgepoles and supports. As soon as the tree becomes<br />
usable, after reaching a 10 em stem diameter, it generally is cut for building material,<br />
with few stems left to grow larger than 25 em. Smaller-diameter trees are worked in the
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