The most common tree in the Amazon

[Dave-Vero]

Today's issue of Science magazine has a report based on a huge amount of field work, showing that only a couple hundred tree species dominate the Amazon, which has 16,000 tree species. Here's the most common tree.

[Sabal Steve]

That's amazing. Here, were graced with Washingtonias.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Here it's Brazilian Pepper. I hate that invasive, exotic tree!

[Daryl]

Palms rule!

[Dave-Vero]

The remarkable thing is that, in a region of incredible biological diversity, a few species manage to be extremely widespread and abundant. The "natural enemies" (insects, fungi, and such) apparently aren't much of a problem for Euterpe.

Of course Florida came with vast carpets of Serenoa repens (saw palmetto) that must have been growing for millenia. The plants creep across the ground, bifurcating fairly regularly, so they have little need to grow from seed.

[amazondk]

I would say that the Mauritia flexuosa would maybe have more trees than the E. precatoria. The tree has a very wide range and grows in numbers which in some places are virtual forests of the trees. I have seen enormous stands of these trees.

dk

[LilikoiLee]

Thanks for sharing. I don't have time to read it now but it looks very interesting.

Lee

[Xerarch]

Awesome! Who among us is currently growing Euterpe precatoria in their garden?

[Explorer]

Here its Populus. Just dull populars under a dull Dutch sky...

Euterpes are certainly more my cup of tea!

Alexander

[Explorer]

Here it's Brazilian Pepper. I hate that invasive, exotic tree!

Here it's Brazilian Pepper. I hate that invasive, exotic tree!

Well you need a really good cold winter to get rid of it!

Alexander

[amazondk]

Awesome! Who among us is currently growing Euterpe precatoria in their garden?

I am. But, that is not to hard as they are natvie here. I have both E. precatorias that I planted and those that just naturally pop up on the property. The toucans are good for seed dispersal. They eat the whole fruit and then spit the seeds up later. There are other birds that also eat the fruits as well.

[realarch]

Awesome palm and thankfully grows well here in Hawaii. Many local gardens sport this variegated variety.

Here are three I planted from 1gal about 6 years ago. (I've posted these pics before)

Tim

[amazondk]

Your trees look nice Tim. They grow well there.

dk