Trees of Cloudbridge

Heliocarpus americanus (Burio)

Description: A thin, prolific and fast-growing pioneer tree seen in disturbed and open areas of secondary forest. Trunks narrow and straight, branching near the top. Heights to 15 meters. Characterized by mantle of pinkish-brown flowers capping the rounded tree-top foliage. Flowers in December and January.

Natural history:

Distribution: Secondary forest thoughout the Talamancas and other mountainous areas of Costa Rica. Also found in Latin America including Brazil. A number of these can be seen when looking down from the bench towards Cloudbridge Falls. These and others dominate young secondary forest that get plenty of sun. They are also found near rivers -- for example, at Pacifica waterfall.

How to recognize: Bushy pinkish clusters of flowers at the very top of the tree.

Uses: Not endangered. Considered invasive in some parts of the world.

Sources and Links:
INBio description
SysTax
and others

Scientific Information:

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Malvales

Family: Tiliaceae

Species: Heliocarpus americanus.

Photo Identification Guide: Heliocarpus americanus (Burio)

Leaves. Leaves are ...

Flowers. Flowers Flowers in December and January. One observer describes the flowers as "brown" but perhapsd this is when they dave died. When live they they seem white-to-pinkish to us.

Fruit and Seeds. Fruits are

Trunk. The trunk is relatively straight. Dbh about 10cm. Bark is smooth, wood soft.

Form. The shape of the tree ...

Saplings. Seedlings and saplings ...

Other. Twigs, etc ... .

Notes/Notas:
Heliocarpus americanus
    Family: Tiliaceae
    Local name: Burio
    Habitat: Common in primary forest light gaps, old

pastures, and secondary forest at 1400 to
      1550 m.
Leaves: 24 x 20 cm with long petioles swollen at the

apex, leaf blade pubescent, a pair of
      small ear-like lobes at the base, serrate margin

with or with out a pair of pointed lobes.
Flowers: Aug to Nov, dioecious, yellow, 1 cm across with

5 narrow petals.
Fruit: Dec to Feb, pink to maroon, 1 cm across with long

hairy rays in a plane, the dense
      fruit clusters are held above the leaves.

Cloudbridge: Bridging a Costa Rican cloud forest

Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Tiliaceae
Species:	Heliocarpus americanus.