habit
Habit of Gustavia paucisperma.
Habit of Gustavia paucisperma.
Gustavia paucisperma is considered to be a leptocaul species because it has many orders of branching. It, however, has relatively thick stems and relatively large leaves.
Leptocaul tree of Bertholletia excelsa.
Leptocaul tree of Bertholletia excelsa.
A small stand of Brazil nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa) photographed in Amazonian Brazil. This species is many-branched and is an example of a typical leptocaul species of neotropical Lecythidaceae.
Apex of a stem of the monocaulis pachycaul Gustavia monocaulis.
Apex of a stem of the monocaulis pachycaul Gustavia monocaulis.
Apex of a stem of Gustavia monocaulis. This species is a pachycaul with thick stems and large leaves. This particular species is also monocaulis because it only possesses one order of branching, i.e., it is single-stemmed.
Tree of Gustavia superba showing the pachycaul growth form.
Tree of Gustavia superba showing the pachycaul growth form.
Gustavia superba, a species with pachycaul growth form, photographed at the Summit Gardens, Canal Zone, Panama. Pachycaul species have relatively few orders of branching, thick stems, and large leaves.
Emergent tree
Emergent tree
An emergent tree of Couratari multiflora based on Mori et al. 16546 from Amapá, Brazil. This species and others of the genus Couratari are among the tallest of lowland rain forest trees. It lives for many years and is therefore called a perennial plant. The growth form is leptocaul; thus, there are many orders of branching.
A Brazil nut tree and flower
A Brazil nut tree and flower
A Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa) growing on the banks of the Rio Negro in the state of Amazonas, Brazil (left) and a Brazil nut flower (right). Photos by C. A. Gracie (left) and Scott A. Mori (right).
Tree of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by R. Foster.
Tree of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by R. Foster.
Tree of Couroupita guianensis from Ecuador. Photo ID. Code rf10 from the Neotropical Live Plant Photos, used wiith permission from R. Foster. The "branches" projecting from the trunk are inflorescences.