| Species and
Family |
Common Names |
Remarks |
TREES
|
Quercus
gulielmi-treleasei,
(Fagaceae)
|
White oak (roble
encino, roble blanco) |
 Montane (2300-3200m). This species and two
other oaks, Q. copeyensis and Q. costaricensis, show high abundance and basal area (Jiménez et al. 1988; Orozco
1991; ANCON 1993; Koomen
1993). Source: Smithsonian Quercus
is the dominant species of the lower montane Talamanca cloud forest
(Kappelle et al., Los Bosques de Roble (Quercus) de la Cordillera de
Talamanca). The saplings are easy to find all over the area around
Cloudbridge. Q. costaricensis listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN
. 500 Q. gulielmi-treleasei planted in 2002. |
Quercus
rapurahuensis
Q. seemannii, Q. oocarpa
(Fagaceae)
|
Oak (roble) |
 Lower montane (1500-2300m): The
oak Q. seemannii, sometimes as tall as 40 m, is frequent, whereas Q.
oocarpa and Q. rapurahuensis are less common
(Jiménez-Marín and Chaverri-Polini 1991). Source:
Smithsonian . Q. rapurahuensis listed as "vulnerable" by
the
IUCN . Photo taken on the trail to Chirripo. 50 Q.
rapurahuensis acorns planted in 2002.
|
Sapium
pachystachys
(Euphorbiaceae)
|
Yos |
 Lower montane (1500-2300m) canopy
species. Source:
Smithsonian . One has been seen in the forest alongside the Upper
Meadow of Cloudbridge. 100 planted in 2002. |
Cornus
disciflora
(Cornaceae)
|
Lloró |
 Lower montane (1500-2300m) canopy
species. Source:
Smithsonian Listed as "vulnerable" by the IUCN.
Lloro is one of the finest woods in Costa Rica. A rich dark
chocolate color, extremely hard and durable. Lloro seeds are hard to
germinate
as their shell is tough. One must submerge the seed in boiling water
for
a minute before germinating to soften the outer surface. Their
germination rate is very low, around 23%. 100 planted in 2002. |
Tecoma stans
(Bignoniaceae)
|
Yellow elder
(candelillo) |
 Lower montane (1500-2300m),
montane canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian See also the "Manual de la Flora de Costa Rica" ( Mobot ). Catalpa family. 300
planted in 2002. |
| Persea
caerulea (Lauraceae) |
Laurel
(aguacatillo) |
 Montane (2300-3200m)
canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian . As the local name suggests, this is a type of wild
avocado tree, attracting quetrzals and other birds and animals. There
are several varieties,
three of which have been planted on Cloudbridge. 350 planted in 2002 |
Manilkara
zapota
(Sapotaceae)
|
Nispero |
 Nisperos, we are told, do not
need particularly good soil to thrive. In addition, they grow better in
flatter areas rather than along slopes, so we planted most if not all
the Nisperos in the lower sections. The accuracy of the seedling
identification on the right is in doubt. 250 planted in 2002. |
Ulmus
mexicana
(Ulmaceae)
|
Elm (tirra) |
 Can be seen in surrounding
forest. "These trees make many seeds and are easily germinated and
planted in one year unlike
many native trees which must grow for two years before planting.
This tree grows fast and well on slopes." Many of the ones we planted
were very small but with care have survived and now look healthy. 400
planted in 2002. |
Cedrela
tonduzii
(Meliaceae)
|
Sweet cedar (cedro
dulce) |
 "It grows best at
1200 meters above sea level. Grows very fast and is locally used for
cabinets, furntiture etc. A beautiful pink colored hardwood, extremely
easy to work. The only danger is a
shoot-borer pest commonly called a "mariposa" (hypsipyla
grandella) which
is a worm of sorts which bores into young saplings under two years old.
You have to keep a close eye on these saplings and refrain from
planting them in any plantation context. Mixing them in among other
trees helps to deter the pest," but they may need a "poda" (see below)
or special mulching if any signs of infestation appear. 500 planted
in 2002. |
Cupressus
lusitanica
(Cupressaceae)
|
Cypress (cipres) |
 "Grows very well at
elevations exceeding 1200 feet. Studies of high altitude trees by
Freddy Rojas at the Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica suggest that
Cipres is the tree most suitable for growing in plantations at high
altitudes." At year one, these Cypress trees will need special
maintenance referred to as the “poda” when the lower branches are
trimmed to within 45% of the entire tree height. 550 planted
in 2002. |
Alnus
acuminata
(Betulaceae)
|
Alder (jaul) |
 Lower montane, montane. Good for
nitrogen-fixing; it is perfect for planting in eroded areas or areas
suffering from deforestation. It is also a fast-growing
commercial tree producing a semi- hard, almost golden colored wood. The
fruits are cone shaped and are green-yellow when immature and maroon
upon maturation. Each cone contains around 100 to 125 seeds. The seeds
are very small, elyptical shaped, and dispersed easily by the wind. 700
planted in 2002. |
Billia
hippocastanum
(Hippocastanaceae)
|
Cucaracho
|
 Seen on the trail to Chirripo, at
a Cloudbridge altitude.
|
Guatteria
talamancana
(Annonaceae)
|
Anonillo
|
 Seen on the trail to Cerro
Chirripo.
|
Alforoa
costaricensis
(Juglandaceae)
|
Gualin
|
 Seen on the trail to Cerro Chirripo.
|
Hyeronima
poasana
(Euphorbiaceae)
|
Llorón
|
Lower montane
(1500-2300m) canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian |
Didymopanax
pittieri
(Araliaceae)
|
Papayillo, papaya
|
This is a
shade-intolerant, slow-growing tree and is commonly found in dwarf
forests on wind-swept ridges or, in its hemiepiphytic form, growing
high in cloudforest trees. Lower montane (1500-2300m) canopy
species. Source:
Smithsonian |
Podocarpus
macrostachyus
(Podocarpaceae
)
|
Cypress, cipres
blanco. ciprecillo |
Lower
montane (1500-2300m), montane canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian |
| Prumnopitys
standleyi |
Conifer, pine |
Montane
(2300-3200m) canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian |
| Cleyera
theaeoides |
|
Montane
(2300-3200m) canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian |
| Ilex spp. |
|
Montane
(2300-3200m) canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian |
| Weinmannia spp. |
|
Montane
(2300-3200m) canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian |
| Araliaceae spp. |
|
Montane
(2300-3200m) canopy species. Source:
Smithsonian |
SHRUBS
AND OTHER SPECIES
|
Citharexylum
Donnell-Smithii
(Verbenaceae)
|
Dama, juniper berry
|
 A fruit tree. Damas
are said to serve as effective windbreakers. Several have been
identified throughout Cloudbridge especially along
the right side of the trail leading up to the planting sites. "Large shrubs or small trees up to 20 m tall;
branches nearly terete, glabrous. Leaves somewhat leathery, oblong to
obovate or elliptic-oblanceolate, 7-16 cm long, 3.5-5 cm wide,
glabrous, upper surface glossy, lower surface dull, apex rounded or
obtuse, base cuneate, petioles green, 1-2 cm long. Flowers in narrow,
elongate-recurved racemes 4-10 cm long, pedicels usually 2-5 mm long;
calyx campanulate, ca. 3 mm long, the rim unlobed and truncate in
fruit; corolla white. Fruit purplish black, oblong-globose, ca. 5-8
mm long." (Wagner et al., 1999). Source: PIER . See also
USDA . 300 planted in 2002.
|
Tournefortia
volubilis
(Boraginaceae)
|
Frutilla |
 A fruiting shrub. Planted to
encourage birds and add
diversity. Source:
www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/imaxxbor.htm
150 planted in 2002.
|
| Erythrina
poeppigiana |
Poro, flame tree |
"Fence-post tree"
with excellent nitrogen-fixing qualities. Leguminous. Can be propagated
by cutting a branch and planting it. See Planting
by estacas . |
Spondias
purpurea
|
Jocote
|
This tropical
fruit tree indigenous to Mesoamerica can also be propagated by branch
cuttings. See Planting
by estacas .
|
Chusquea spp.
(Poaceae)
|
Bamboo |
Several species of
bamboo grow in the high-altitude understory, and dwarf bamboo prevails
in the paramo. We
have used it alongside the road and as stakes for the trees. Bamboo is
used to stem soil erosion at lower altitudes. We have considered using
native bamboo, found in the adjacent forest, to shore up eroded areas.
However, with the cows gone, the grass is rapidly securing this
area
so we're leaving it alone. For info on a local, albeit low altitude,
bamboo plantation see: http://www.idccr.com/
|
