Epicormic branches: a growth indicator for the tropical forest tree, Dicorynia guianensis Amshoff (Caesalpiniaceae)

Nicolini Eric-André, Caraglio Yves, Pélissier Raphaël, Leroy Céline, Roggy Jean-Christophe. 2003. Epicormic branches: a growth indicator for the tropical forest tree, Dicorynia guianensis Amshoff (Caesalpiniaceae). Annals of Botany, 92 : 97-105.

https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcg119

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Autre titre : Les branches épicormiques : un indicateur de croissance pour l'arbre forestier tropical Dicorynia guianensis Amshoff (Caesalpiniaceae)

Résumé : Architectural analyses of temperate tree species using a chronological approach suggest that the expression of epicormic branches is closely related to low growth rates in the axes that make up the branching system. Therefore, sole consideration of epicormic criteria may be sufficient to identify trees with low secondary growth levels or with both low primary and secondary growth levels. In a tropical tree such as Dicorynia guianensis (basralocus), where chronological studies are difficult, this relationship could be very useful as an easily accessible indicator of growth potentials. A simple method of architectural tree description was used to characterize the global structure of more than 1650 basralocus trees and to evaluate their growth level. Measurements of simple growth characters [height, basal diameter, internode length of submittal part (top of the main axis of the tree)] and the observation of four structural binary descriptors on the main stem (presence of sequential branches and young epicormic branches, state of the submittal part, global orientation), indicated that epicormic branch formation is clearly related to a decrease in length of the successive growth units of the main stem. Analysis of height vs. diameter ratios among different tree subgroups, with and without epicormic branching, suggested that trees with epicormic branches generally have a low level of secondary growth compared with primary growth.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : Caesalpinioideae, ramification, taux de croissance, branche, croissance, diamètre

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Guinée

Mots-clés complémentaires : Tige épicormique, Dicorynia guianensis, Architecture végétale

Classification Agris : F50 - Anatomie et morphologie des plantes
F62 - Physiologie végétale - Croissance et développement

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