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Thread: Leopard tree
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12th March 2015, 03:57 PM #16Senior Member
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A while back, the genus Caesalpinia was broken up. Here is part of the Introduction from Gasson et al. (2009) (<- Click on link)
Caesalpinia s.l. traditionally comprised c. 140 species in the New and Old World tropics,
and contained 25 generic synonyms (Lewis 2005). The genus in its broadest sense
has been shown to be polyphyletic in morphological and molecular studies (Lewis &
Schrire 1995; Simpson & Miao 1997; Lewis 1998; Simpson 1998, 1999; Simpson &
Lewis 2003, Simpson et al. 2003), and most species have now been assigned to reinstated
segregate genera, whose names and/or status differ from the group names used
in Lewis (1998) as follows: Caesalpinia s.s. (c. 25 spp.), Coulteria (10 spp., Brasilettia
group in Lewis (1998)), Erythrostemon (13 spp., part of Erythrostemon/Poincianella
group in Lewis (1998)), Guilandina (c. 7 spp., subgenus Guilandina), Libidibia (8 spp.,
Libidibia group), Mezoneuron (c. 26 spp, subgenus Mezoneuron), Poincianella (c. 35
spp., part of Erythrostemon/Poincianella group), Tara (3 spp., Russellodendron group
in Lewis (1998)). About 15 Asian taxa remain unassigned pending further analysis,
especially of molecular data. Pomaria was once largely included in Hoffmannseggia but
is now considered more closely related to Caesalpinia s.l. based on molecular studies
by Simpson et al. (2003). Some species of Caesalpinia s.l. (e.g. Poincianella pannosa
and P. exostemma) have considerable morphological variation in their foliage, leaflet
size, shape and indumentum, which has led to a proliferation of species names now
included in synonymy. In this paper we describe the wood anatomy of the genus in its
broadest sense, and outline the features (if any) that consistently define each segregate
genus. Our major aim was to ascertain how closely the wood anatomy reflects the
reclassification of Caesalpinia s.l. into putatively monophyletic segregate genera.
In the section entitled "Libidibia,"
Neotropical trees or shrubs in seasonally dry forest and scrub, thorn forest (including
caatinga) and savanna woodland. We examined seven species of
Libidibia: L. coriaria (Jacq.) Schltdl., Caesalpinia
(Libidibia) ferrea Mart. (Fig. 29 & 30), Caesalpinia (Libidibia) glabrata Kunth (synonym
Caesalpinia paipai Ruiz & Pavon) (Fig. 26–28), Libidibia granadillo (Pittier)
Pittier (probably = Libidibia punctata (Willd.) Britton), Libidibia paraguariensis
(D. Parodi) G.P. Lewis (Fig. 23–25), Libidibia punctata (as Caesalpinia (Libidibia)
paucijuga Benth. ex Hook.) and Libidibia sclerocarpa Britton & Rose (as Caesalpinia
sclerocarpa Standl.). The wood of the eighth species, L. corymbosa (Benth.) Britton &
Killip (probably = Caesalpinia (L.) glabrata Kunth), was described by Latorre (1983).
The wood of Libidibia has several uses (Lewis 2005): it is prized in turnery and for
parts of guitars and violins; Caesalpinia (Libidibia) glabrata and Libidibia paraguariensis
(both known as partridge wood) are used in decorative inlay and cabinet
work, some species are used in heavy construction (railway sleepers, beams, bridge supports),
for tool handles and firewood. Some Libidibia species are also planted as ornamentals.
There are wood descriptions and/or photomicrographs of the wood of Libidibia,
usually as Caesalpinia species, in Schmid (1915), Record and Mell (1924), Williams
(1939), Cozzo and Cristiani (1950), Cozzo (1951), Tortorelli (1956), Kribs (1959),
Paula (1980, 1981), Mainieri et al. (1983), Luo (1989), Ilic (1991), Angyalossy et al.
(2005), Espinoza de Pernía and Melandri (2006), and InsideWood (2004–onwards).
Libidibia is well defined on the basis of wood anatomy. All species have short storied
rays, storied axial parenchyma, and homocellular rays. Prismatic crystals were not found
in any ray cells. Most species lack growth rings apart from Caesalpinia (Libidibia)
ferrea (Fig. 29), which has indistinct growth rings and Libidibia paraguariensis, which
has marginal lines of parenchyma. The sample labelled Libidibia granadillo (probably
= L. punctata) was the only species of Caesalpinia s.l. examined with sclerified
axial parenchyma.
http://www.kew.org/science-conservat...enus/libidibia
The names "pau ferro" and "ironwood" are used for countless timbers. Common names are a recipe to confusion.
Libidibia sclerocarpa => Ebano, Ebano prieto, Ebano de Mexico, Palo freno, tubchi
Libidibia punctata => Granadillo, Ebano, Bridalveil Tree, brown ebony, partridgewood
Libidibia glabrata => Charán, Charán verde
Libdibia ferrea
The recurrent tree shown on this forum called Brazilian Ironwood is Libidibia ferrea. The bark is quite distinctive. Pau-Brazil is Caesalpinia echinata. From Juchum et al. (2008):
Caesalpinia echinata (brazilwood or Pernambuco
wood) comprises a complex of three morphological
leaf variants, characterized by differences in the number
and size of the pinnae and leaflets, and occurring in
allopatric and sympatric populations. The present study
evaluates the utility of the Chloroplast DNA trnL intron in a
phylogenetic analysis of the three leaf variants along with
other species of Caesalpinia and generic relatives. Our
study supports the hypothesis that the name C. echinata
designates a species complex and provides evidence that
one of the forms, the highly divergent C. echinata largeleafleted
variant, represents a distinct taxon.
Phylogenetically, Caesalpinia echinata is relatively close to the genus Libidibia. Otherwise, the subfamily Caesalpinioideae is not fully sorted out. Expect more name changes in Leguminosae/Fabaceae in the future.
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12th March 2015, 05:58 PM #17Skwair2rownd
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Thanks Runge!!
I only really bother with this when confusion arises! ( I guess I'm a bit slack in that regard!)
I agree that common names can confuse things a great deal, however it is probably just as confusing when the science
gets to play a greater role as in this case.
A I mentioned the issue of different appearances for what is the same tree is also a point of confusion. The green colouring
of the bark is a case in point.
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14th March 2015, 03:32 AM #18Senior Member
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Hi Artme,
I've never actually seen a living Libidibia tree but it looks like the bark (on fice of the species) may go through a phase when there's some green.
Have you guys ever thought of growing Libidibia punctata in AU rather than Libidibia ferrea? I think the wood is better. And, speaking of the Libidibia family,
Libidibia glabrata = Caesalpinia paipai = Caesalpinia corymbosa (From Ecuador & Peru)
Libidibia paraguariensis (From Py, Ar, Bo)
Libidibia punctata, Lp2, Lp3 (From Colombia and Venezuela)
Libidibia coriaria looks quite different from the other five Libidibia's, as does Stahlia monosperma.
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14th March 2015, 12:18 PM #19Skwair2rownd
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The caeselpinia ferrea grown here is planted as a street tree but is also privately planted for landscaping purposes.
In some places where the trees are planted on either side of the road they have met to form an arch and provide
glorious cool shade.
It would be interesting to see if there is any agroforestry worth in planting the tree. One of the problems may well be
the massive amounts of seed produced and the risk of the tree becoming very invasive.This has happened with the
poiciana - delinox regia- in the Northern Territory of Australia where it has become a real concern. Strange how this
beautiful tree is almost extinct in its native habitat and plans are afoot to re- introduce it to Madagascar.
I was lookining at Pete"s photos again and I think it may well be puntata. The colouring of the timber just doesn't quite match what I know as pau ferro
even though it is very similar.
Perhaps a mixed bag of seeds was originally brought into the country!
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14th March 2015, 02:23 PM #20Senior Member
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Well Artme, the first way to solve this "mystery" is to look at the leaves and pods. I don't know enough to tell the difference between the species (L. ferrea and L. punctata) just by looking at the leaves, flowers or pods. Next, from the perspective of the wood, Gasson et al.(2009) say they all look pretty similar. Wood color is probably the best indicator to my naive mind. L. punctata produces dark wood. The one piece of L. punctata that I own is brownish-black with an air-dry density of 1.29g/cc. I don't think L. ferrea gets that dense. Or that dark. Also, from Gasson et al.(2009)
"Libidibia is well defined on the basis of wood anatomy. All species have short storied rays, storied axial parenchyma, and homocellular rays. Prismatic crystals were not found in any ray cells. Most species lack growth rings apart from Caesalpinia (Libidibia) ferrea (Fig. 29), which has indistinct growth rings and Libidibia paraguariensis, which has marginal lines of parenchyma. The sample labelled Libidibia granadillo (probably = L. punctata) was the only species of Caesalpinia s.l. examined with sclerified axial parenchyma." Got a microscope??
OK, now it's up to other forum members to clarify which Libidibia species is planted all over Australia.
Here are two L. ferrea pictures 1 2 .
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15th March 2015, 04:20 PM #21
Leopard tree
I changed both the Wikipedia and Brisbane Trees articles on leopard trees from Caesalpinnea ferrea to Libidibia ferrea after reading this thread, so I hope the journal article was authoritative.
On the density of the wood, I can vouch for that. Carrying it around all day is pretty hard work. It's also harder on the saws than most Eucalypts.
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15th March 2015, 04:38 PM #22Senior Member
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17th March 2015, 01:14 PM #23Senior Member
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Here's a good article on Leguminosae:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/conten...00002/art00002 (It's free to download)
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