Aspidosperma excelsum

Aspidosperma excelsum Benth.

Aspidosperma excelsum is a species in the Apocynaceae family, native to regions including Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Panama, and Costa Rica. It is a tall tree, reaching up to one hundred feet in height. A notable feature of this species is its trunk, which has a deeply sinuous, stellate cross-section. This structural characteristic is believed to provide resistance against strangling plants by complicating their ability to encircle the tree's cambium.

Description

Aspidosperma excelsum, described by Benth. in 1841, is found in various protected areas across South America, such as Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete, Parque Nacional Natural Yaigojé Apaporis, and others in Colombia, as well as in Amazonas, Caquetá, Chocó, and other regions. It is also reported in Bolivia, Brazil North, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, and Peru. The original collection of A. excelsum was made by Robert Schomburgk, as noted in taxonomic literature. The species is distinguished by its deeply sinuous trunk cross-section, which is thought to serve as a defense mechanism against strangling plants.

Distribution

BR · Parque Nacional Natutral de Amacayacu | Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete | Parque Nacional Natural Yaigojé Apaporis | Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena | Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro | Parque Nacional Natural Tinigua · Parque Nacional Natural Tinigua · Amazonas, Caquetá, Chocó, Córdoba, Guainía, Meta, Putumayo, Valle, Vaupés, Vichada · Departamentos del Caquetá y Guaviare: Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete · Amazonia nororiental de Colombia, departamento del Guainía, municipio de Inírida. · Caño Cuduyarí, departamento de Vaupés (Amazonia Colombiana) · Global · TomoGrande, 4.856823|-70.223777 · CO · Microcuenca alta de río Tillavá · Parque Nacional Natural Serranía de Chiribiquete (PNNSCh) · Bolivia · Brazil North · Colombia · Costa Rica · French Guiana · Guyana · Panamá · Peru · Suriname · Venezuela · Leticia