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Chorisia Trees Greet the Fall With Hot Pink Pizzazz

October 04, 2009

What's Blooming

Chorisia speciosa
Chorisia speciosa grown from seed here at the Arboretum

Chorisia speciosa seedling

 

Named after a German artist, Ludwig Choris, the Floss silk tree, Chorisia speciosa, is called ‘Palo barracho rosada’ (‘rosy drunken stick’) in its native Argentina because of its odd-angled branches and pink flowers.  In the fall it produces a spectacular show of orchid-like pink blooms and then a large crop of avocado like green pods that eventually explode in the spring to produce cotton-like masses of seed impregnated fibers. Here at the Arboretum parrots swarm to the newly exploded fruit to consume the seeds and in the process cause the fibers to scatter in the warm spring breeze like snow. This fiber is resistant to insects and rotting and has been used for pillow stuffing and, because it floats, has been used in life vests and preservers as well. Probably the most interesting use of this fiber has been to acoustically deaden recording studios and radio broadcast rooms.  Besides using its fiber Argentineans and Brazilians have used the wood for canoes (it’s almost as light as balsa) and the tree is planted extensively in its native range as an ornamental.

C. speciosa 'September Splendor'

Chorisia speciosa 'September Splendor' is usually the first to bloom here at the Arboretum.

 

In its native, mostly frost-free range Chorisia endures dry seasons and droughts by losing its leaves; however unlike trees in temperate regions where a thick layer of bark is needed to insulate the sensitive layer of food and water transporting tissue known as the vascular cambium from the freezing cold, Chorisia's trunk has a very thin layer of protective tissue. This thin layer allows light to pass through photosynthetic cells containing chlorophyll. This is why Chorisia's trunk appears green. Because the trunk has no bark to protect it from animals that might eat it, large spines cover it and the larger branches of the tree -this is why you'll rarely see a Chorisia planted next to an athletic field!

Ant Plant

September 29, 2009

What's Blooming

Myrmecodia platytyrea

The genus name Myrmecodia is derived from the Greek myrmekodes, meaning ant-like or full of ants.  Myrmecodia is native to Northwest coast of Borneo, East Malaysia, New Guinea, and North Australia, Myrmecodia platytyria grows in tree branches and on trunks.  It develops a grotesque, somewhat spiny tuber at its base that  helps it form a symbiotic relationship with ants.  The tissue inside this specialized organ dies off in such a way as to form chambers and small airways for ventilation, providing an ideal habit to house ant colonies. But this is not a free ride for the ants; either by dying or defecating they bring nutrients to the plant, helping it to grow.

Myrmecodia tuberosaCut away view of Myrmecodia stem

(top) Myrmecodia  platytyria on display in the Tropical Greenhouse. (bottom) Cutaway view of a Myrmecodia tuber showing chambers

drawing courtesy of

44x15

 

It is thought that the established ant colony also helps to protect the plant from insects, but there are conflicting studies.  One study looking at another type of ant plant in the Amazon found that after removing ants, the plant was 4.3 times more likely to have herbivorous (plant eating) insects on them compared to plants with ants; however a University of Connecticut study found that ant-plants are more susceptible to a number of common pests such as scale and mealy bugs because of the ants behavior of ‘farming’ these pests on the plants that host them.

The Arboretum has a Myrmecodia platytyria on display in the Tropical Greenhouse.

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