Rare tropical tree - Clavija cf. lehmannii

[XYZ]

A discussion that developed on another subforum where Scott Cohen has offered some beautiful seedlings of the endangered Hispanolian tree, Clavija dominguensis, for sale brought up interest in these by other PT members. Since some of the smaller lowland tropical species are suitable for pot culture, some cool climate gardeners might want to try them indoors.

Pssst, IMO, Scott's trees are a steal. Get 'em while they last.

Clavija is an oddball genus of litter-trapping understory trees ranging from Nicaragua to Bolivia with one outlier in the DR. Family is either Theophrastaceae or Primulaceae depending on the source. There are >50 currently accepted species with the center for species diversity in NW South America, although there are also five or six species in southern Central America. I grow three species scattered around various collections between two countries. They are mostly short-statured (several are very small) and monocaulous/monopodial, but some some species reach ~6-7 m (19-23') high. They rarely branch but can sprout from the base. Some are almost palm-like in appearance when mature. A couple small species appear to be near-pachycauls, which is rather uncommon phenomenon in lowland rainforest trees.

The identification here is tentative, hence the "cf." This is an orange-flowered Colombian endemic occurring from ~900 to 1900 m (2,925-6,175') elevation, so can be considered largely to be a cloud forest tree. I believe it reaches 4-5 m (13-16') tall in nature. Local name is "huevos de gallo" (rooster eggs), presumably referring to the relatively large, yolk-like, edible membranaceous fruits that many common clavijas have.

I obtained this as a large seedling about two years ago. It is being grown on a bench in a cool orchid house in South San Francisco, with good light and high relative humidity year-round. Like the Ecuadoran rainforest species I grew in Guatemala, quite straightforward in cultivation with steady upward growth concentrated in spurts every six months or so. The longest leaves on this sapling are 75 cm (30"), and they are arranged in whorls as the stem elongates. This one has not shown any issues with nighttime temps into the high 40s (F), but lowland species in Guatemalan will shed their leaves in the winter and shut down when exposed to similar lows.

The terminal leaf rosette is very reminiscent of some of the epiphytic birds-nest aroids, which are also leaf litter traps. I recall reading somewhere that the rotting leaf litter piles in at least one Clavija sp. are usually colonized by ants that apparently defend the tree from insect leaf predators, so it's possible other species are at least occasionally myrmecophilous.

Besides Scott Cohen's seedlings, I think RPS and other tropical seed vendors occasionally offer seed from clavijas for sale. I don't think they have long viability, so probably important to get them as fresh as possible.

Cheers,

J

 

[Yunder Wækraus]

Fantastic tree! What's the cold hardiness?

[XYZ]

Still untested below high 40s F overnight. Presumably, will tolerate highs 30s or low 40s F for brief periods, but may drop leaves.

[Funkthulhu]

I love it when someone posts something like this to share their knowledge and bring us all into the fold of a genus we may not have seen before.

[edric]

Super cool! Ed

[Josh-O]

[LJG]

11 hours ago, stone jaguar said:

Still untested below high 40s F overnight. Presumably, will tolerate highs 30s or low 40s F for brief periods, but may drop leaves.

J, I'll be happy to test it for you

Thats a beauty. 

Edited December 2, 2016 by LJG

[XYZ]

Len:

I'll be sure and keep you in mind

Seriously, if I can get an offset going next year, I'll let you know.

J