Cryptocarya
Encyclopedia
Cryptocarya is a genus
of evergreen
tree
s belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae
. The genus includes more than 350 species, distributed through the Neotropic
, Afrotropic
, Indomalaya
, and Australasia ecozone
s.
of evergreen
trees, distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mauritius, India, China, Java , New Guinea, Africa and represented by 7 species in Southern Africa.
Common canopy very large trees to 60 m. or subcanopy trees in the succession climax species in tropical, lower temperate or subtropical broadleaved forest. Across communities of evergreen broadleaved forest and mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest. Found in low elevation evergreen forests and littoral rainforest, usually on all type of soils.
The seeds are readily dispersed by fruit-eating birds, and seedlings and saplings have been recorded from other habitats where they are unlikely to develop to maturity.
The genus word Cryptocarya is from a Greek word krypto- meaning to hide, karya- meaning a walnut tree, the fruit of which was known as karyon, a word also used to other fruits. Sometimes are called Mountain laurels or Mountain walnuts. The fruit are succulent, partly immersed in a deep thick cup.
In a recent generic classification of Lauraceae based on DNA sequence data by Chanderbali et al. in 2001, was found to be part of a strongly supported clade that also includes Beilschmiedia
, Potameia
, Endiandra
and Aspidostemon
.
mostly from the tropics or warmer temperate areas, and like most of their counterparts laurifolia in the world, they are vigorous species with a great ability to populate the habitat that is conducive. The natural habitat of most of species are in rainforest which are cloud-covered for much of the year. These species are found in forests that face threats of destruction by human deforestation
. Some species are in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat.
Cryptocarya is a genus of great ecological importance. It is present in low rainforest and montane rainforest, laurel forest
, in the Weed-tree forests in valleys, mixed forests of coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved trees.
The differences are ecological adaptations to different environments over a relatively dry-wet and a warmer to mild frost (-2ºc) in temperate climate growing in cooler regions, subject to frost and occasional snow. Species in less humid environment are smaller or less robust, with less abundant and thinner foliage and have oleifera cells that give trees a more fragrant aroma.
The most known trees are used by the timber industry. In this genus the wood of some species are having a high commercial value.
The species forming this genus share a unique paniculate inflorescence with the ultimate divisions that are not quite cymose; that is, the lateral flowers of what looks like a cyme are not strictly opposite, but tend to be subopposite, while in most genera of Lauraceae with paniculate inflorescences the lateral flowers in a cyme are strictly opposite.
The genus Ravensara
, endemic to Madagascar
, was described by Sonnerat in 1782, with the single species Ravensara aromatica
. Kostermans maintained Ravensara in his treatment of the Lauraceae for the "Flore de Madagascar et des Comores" and in a later publication from 1958 in which he described an additional nine new species of Ravensara. Currently, the estimated number of species of Ravensara is about 30.
Ravensara has always been considered closely related to Cryptocarya. Cryptocarya is also related to the Beilschmiedia clade and that, based on the presence of fruit included in the enlarged hypanthium, it is yet most closely related to Aspidostemon thought the similarity in fruit structure, in both Aspidostemon and Cryptocarya the fruit is enclosed in the enlarged hypanthium, might be a parallel development and not a signal of common ancestry.
The fruit, a berry, is an important food source for birds, usually this birds are from specialized genus. Birds eat the whole fruit and regurgitate seeds intact, expanding the seeds in the best conditions for germination (ornitochory
). In some species the seed dispersal
is carried out by mammal
s.
and the Australian Cryptocarya erythroxylon
and Cryptocarya foveolata
of the mountains of New South Wales
are outstanding for their frost tolerance within this genus having its majority of species growing in tropical climate
.
Cryptocarya woodii flowers in November with small inconspicuous flowers. These small flowers develop into round, shiny, purple-black fruits. This tree has a very hard brown wood.
C. alba, the Peumo
, is the most common evergreen tree in the Chilean Matorral
ecoregion
of central Chile
and produces edible reddish fruits and is the most known species in the Northern hemisphere
. Cryptocarya massoia is used commercially to produce essential oil
s.
The bark of the tree Cryptocarya massoy contains a volatile oil comparable to cinnamon.
C. alba produces a very hard wood which is highly esteemed.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae
Lauraceae
The Lauraceae or Laurel family comprises a group of flowering plants included in the order Laurales. The family contains about 55 genera and over 3500, perhaps as many as 4000, species world-wide, mostly from warm or tropical regions, especially Southeast Asia and South America...
. The genus includes more than 350 species, distributed through the Neotropic
Neotropic
In biogeography, the Neotropic or Neotropical zone is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones. This ecozone includes South and Central America, the Mexican lowlands, the Caribbean islands, and southern Florida, because these regions share a large number of plant and animal groups.It is sometimes used...
, Afrotropic
Afrotropic
The Afrotropic is one of the Earth's eight ecozones. It includes Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the southern and eastern fringes of the Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, southern Iran and extreme southwestern Pakistan, and the islands of the western Indian Ocean. It was formerly...
, Indomalaya
Indomalaya
The Indomalaya ecozone is one of the eight ecozones that cover the planet's land surface. It extends across most of South and Southeast Asia and into the southern parts of East Asia....
, and Australasia ecozone
Australasia ecozone
The Australasian zone is an ecological region that is coincident, but not synonymous , with the geographic region of Australasia...
s.
Overview
The genus includes speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
trees, distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical regions of South America, Mauritius, India, China, Java , New Guinea, Africa and represented by 7 species in Southern Africa.
Common canopy very large trees to 60 m. or subcanopy trees in the succession climax species in tropical, lower temperate or subtropical broadleaved forest. Across communities of evergreen broadleaved forest and mixed coniferous-broadleaved forest. Found in low elevation evergreen forests and littoral rainforest, usually on all type of soils.
The seeds are readily dispersed by fruit-eating birds, and seedlings and saplings have been recorded from other habitats where they are unlikely to develop to maturity.
The genus word Cryptocarya is from a Greek word krypto- meaning to hide, karya- meaning a walnut tree, the fruit of which was known as karyon, a word also used to other fruits. Sometimes are called Mountain laurels or Mountain walnuts. The fruit are succulent, partly immersed in a deep thick cup.
In a recent generic classification of Lauraceae based on DNA sequence data by Chanderbali et al. in 2001, was found to be part of a strongly supported clade that also includes Beilschmiedia
Beilschmiedia
Beilschmiedia is a genus of trees and shrubs in family Lauraceae. Most of its species grow in tropical climates, but a few of them are native to temperate regions, and they are widespread in tropical Asia, Africa, Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, North America, Central America, the Caribbean,...
, Potameia
Potameia
Potameia is a genus of plant in family Lauraceae. It contains the following species :* Potameia lotungensis, Kim Dao...
, Endiandra
Endiandra
Endiandra is a genus of approximately 100 species of plants, mainly trees in the laurel family Lauraceae. They have a broad distribution across South East Asia, Australia and into the western Pacific Ocean....
and Aspidostemon
Aspidostemon
Aspidostemon is a botanical genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Lauraceae. It is present from Madagascar.-Overview:The genus was described by Gunter Jens Rohwer & HGRicht. Published in Jahrbuch für Botanische Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte Pflanzengeographie und 109 : 74 in 1987...
.
Ecology
From large trees to shrubs, monoicous. The ecological requirements of the genus, are those of the laurel forestLaurel forest
Laurel forest is a subtropical or mild temperate forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures. They are characterized by tree species with evergreen, glossy, enlongated leaves, known as laurophyll or lauroide...
mostly from the tropics or warmer temperate areas, and like most of their counterparts laurifolia in the world, they are vigorous species with a great ability to populate the habitat that is conducive. The natural habitat of most of species are in rainforest which are cloud-covered for much of the year. These species are found in forests that face threats of destruction by human deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
. Some species are in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat.
Cryptocarya is a genus of great ecological importance. It is present in low rainforest and montane rainforest, laurel forest
Laurel forest
Laurel forest is a subtropical or mild temperate forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures. They are characterized by tree species with evergreen, glossy, enlongated leaves, known as laurophyll or lauroide...
, in the Weed-tree forests in valleys, mixed forests of coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved trees.
The differences are ecological adaptations to different environments over a relatively dry-wet and a warmer to mild frost (-2ºc) in temperate climate growing in cooler regions, subject to frost and occasional snow. Species in less humid environment are smaller or less robust, with less abundant and thinner foliage and have oleifera cells that give trees a more fragrant aroma.
The most known trees are used by the timber industry. In this genus the wood of some species are having a high commercial value.
The species forming this genus share a unique paniculate inflorescence with the ultimate divisions that are not quite cymose; that is, the lateral flowers of what looks like a cyme are not strictly opposite, but tend to be subopposite, while in most genera of Lauraceae with paniculate inflorescences the lateral flowers in a cyme are strictly opposite.
The genus Ravensara
Ravensara
The Ravensara is a Madagascar endemic genus of trees and shrubs flowering plants belonging to the family Lauraceae. Ravensare species produce Essential Oils from their bark, their leaves and their fruit....
, endemic to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, was described by Sonnerat in 1782, with the single species Ravensara aromatica
Ravensara aromatica
Ravensara aromatica is a member of the Lauraceae family, and originates in Madagascar. The name ravensara is a latinization of the Malagasy word . Other Malagasy names include , and . The leaves and twigs of R. aromatica have a mildly camphorous aroma similar to eucalyptus. The essential oil of R...
. Kostermans maintained Ravensara in his treatment of the Lauraceae for the "Flore de Madagascar et des Comores" and in a later publication from 1958 in which he described an additional nine new species of Ravensara. Currently, the estimated number of species of Ravensara is about 30.
Ravensara has always been considered closely related to Cryptocarya. Cryptocarya is also related to the Beilschmiedia clade and that, based on the presence of fruit included in the enlarged hypanthium, it is yet most closely related to Aspidostemon thought the similarity in fruit structure, in both Aspidostemon and Cryptocarya the fruit is enclosed in the enlarged hypanthium, might be a parallel development and not a signal of common ancestry.
The fruit, a berry, is an important food source for birds, usually this birds are from specialized genus. Birds eat the whole fruit and regurgitate seeds intact, expanding the seeds in the best conditions for germination (ornitochory
Biological dispersal
Biological dispersal refers to species movement away from an existing population or away from the parent organism. Through simply moving from one habitat patch to another, the dispersal of an individual has consequences not only for individual fitness, but also for population dynamics, population...
). In some species the seed dispersal
Seed dispersal
Seed dispersal is the movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. Plants have limited mobility and consequently rely upon a variety of dispersal vectors to transport their propagules, including both abiotic and biotic vectors. Seeds can be dispersed away from the parent plant...
is carried out by mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
s.
Commercial selected species
The Chilean Cryptocarya albaCryptocarya alba
Cryptocarya alba, the Peumo, is an evergreen tree that grows in Chile and Argentina from 33 to 40° southern latitude. It can live both in wet and as in dry conditions. Its distribution can reach up to 1500 meters above sea level. It measures up to 20 meters height and one meter diameter, with...
and the Australian Cryptocarya erythroxylon
Cryptocarya erythroxylon
Cryptocarya erythroxylon is a medium to large rainforest tree, that grows from the Barrington Tops in New South Wales to the Gladstone area in Queensland. The common name is the Pigeonberry Ash, Rose Maple, or Rose Walnut....
and Cryptocarya foveolata
Cryptocarya foveolata
Cryptocarya foveolata, known as the Mountain Walnut is a rainforest tree growing at high altitude in eastern Australia. Despite the common name, it belongs to the Laurel family....
of the mountains of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
are outstanding for their frost tolerance within this genus having its majority of species growing in tropical climate
Tropical climate
A tropical climate is a climate of the tropics. In the Köppen climate classification it is a non-arid climate in which all twelve months have mean temperatures above...
.
Cryptocarya woodii flowers in November with small inconspicuous flowers. These small flowers develop into round, shiny, purple-black fruits. This tree has a very hard brown wood.
C. alba, the Peumo
Cryptocarya alba
Cryptocarya alba, the Peumo, is an evergreen tree that grows in Chile and Argentina from 33 to 40° southern latitude. It can live both in wet and as in dry conditions. Its distribution can reach up to 1500 meters above sea level. It measures up to 20 meters height and one meter diameter, with...
, is the most common evergreen tree in the Chilean Matorral
Chilean Matorral
The Chilean Matorral is a terrestrial ecoregion of central Chile, located on the west coast of South America. It is in the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, part of the Neotropic ecozone....
ecoregion
Ecoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
of central Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and produces edible reddish fruits and is the most known species in the Northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
. Cryptocarya massoia is used commercially to produce essential oil
Essential oil
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils or aetherolea, or simply as the "oil of" the plant from which they were extracted, such as oil of clove...
s.
The bark of the tree Cryptocarya massoy contains a volatile oil comparable to cinnamon.
C. alba produces a very hard wood which is highly esteemed.
Cryptocarya species
External links
- Pictures of Cryptocarya alba or Peumo in Chile.