Flor de Pochote

At the farm we make research to find ways of cultivating overlooked local species of precious woods, in order to prevent the local industries from loosing this important raw material.

Our experiments include many tropical woods, such as Mahogany (Swietenia humilis and Sw. macrophylla), Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata), Teak (Tectona grandis), Cocobolo rosewood (Dalbergia retusa) and Indian rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia).

Diversity of trees

To our knowledge Flor de Pochote contains a diversity of 106 different tree species.

Click for a complete list (Excel, in Spanish).

Dalbergia retusa
Fabaceae

Although these characteristics has made the 'Cocobolo' one of the most expensive woods in the world, there have been very few intents to cultivate it. Generally planters claim that the species grows very slowly and performs more like a bush than a tree.

In 1998 we established a trial to observe the growth and silviculture of the species. The results until now show that growing Ñámbar commercially would be quite profitable.

Swietenia humilis
Meliaceae

When included in mahogany trials, the dry zone species have performed very poorly, and it is difficult to find good experiences of cultivating it. As the wood is highly demanded locally, the species might be in danger if activities for cultivation are not speeded up.

The major problem for mahogany planters is the shoot borer (Hypsipyla spp.) - a little worm that burrows into the shoots of young trees. We know that worm very well, and it has set back our plants seriously in parts of our farm.
However, where the shoot borer attacks are absent or moderate the trees grow rather good.

Bombacopsis quinata
Bombaceae

The tree is easily recognized due to the dense cover of sticky thorns on stem and branches. The more thorny, the better the wood, the local people say. The thorns are necessary as many kinds of animals find the leaves extraordinary delicious. A dear would happily break the stem with its back, and the sloth would path all day up there.

But a big blue-green  larva has broken the defense, and in the rainy season you can se large colonies resting between the safe thorns of the stem during the day. At night they crawl up and enjoy the leaves. In 2004 we had so many larvae, that not one single leaf was left over - and then the larvae died of hunger. Since they have not been back, and we are still waiting to catch one and find out what kind of butterfly they become.

The Pochote its realy a specialist in survival. It grows on almost pure rocks. Draughts do not matter, as it drops its leaves and enters in a kind of hibernation as soon as the rainy season ends.
If cut down, its sprouts easily again. Also branches used for poles set new sprouts, wherefore pochote is common in living fences.

Ficus spp.
Moraceae

In the photo the little tree seams quite harmeless against just on of the three solid stems of the Pochote, but experienced farmers assure us that the old tree is as helpless as Goliath was.
The matapalo (tree-killer) starts as a liana that raises its thin stem lending a little support from its victim. Each year it sets new stems, that together form a web, and when getting thicker a kind of wall. Little by little the host tree is overwhelmed and will die. The killer tree is now strong enough to keep its place in the canopy sphere and will keep growing. They can turn into real living walls, reaching dimensions of five to seven meters in 'length'.

Tecoma stans
Bignoniaceae

The Sardinillo covers willingly harsh and dry landscapes mistreated and abandoned by man. During three month of the dry season, when all other plants seams to give up, it maintain fresh green leaves decorated with attractive yellow flowers. It stands as a reminder that the overwhelming heat is no reason to give up.
It is excellent firewood, but except of this few people seem to care for it.