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capixingui

Croton floribundus Spreng.

Family: Euphorbiaceae · Genus: Croton

Secondary I High Mulch biomass 🪓 Coppices after cutting
Jorge EFO Silva · CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

Native pioneer tree of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, common in edges and clearings of semi-deciduous forests. Reaches 8–15 m on a roughly 30-year cycle, occupying the high/medium stratum. In syntropic systems it acts as a woody pioneer: produces cover biomass, attracts pollinators, and paves the way for secondary and climax species.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
Ecological role
Pioneer
Primary stratum
High
Strata
High, Medium
Biomass class
Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Moderate
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy
Hardiness zones
9–12

Morphology

Mature height
8–15 m
Recommended spacing
3–5 m
Root depth
Medium
Growth rate
Fast
Lifespan
25–40 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Capixingui takes the High stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent High · ≈15 m Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Propagated by seed — collect capsules before the explosive dehiscence. Tolerates poor, well-drained soils. Fast-growing in full sun.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Tolerates heavy pruning and resprouts readily. Manage as a biomass species when secondary and climax trees need space and light.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: September, October, November

Fruiting months: December, January, February

❓ Frequently asked questions

What spacing is recommended for capixingui?

The recommended spacing for capixingui is 3–5 m.

How tall does capixingui grow?

At maturity, capixingui reaches 8–15 m tall.

When does capixingui fruit?

Fruiting of capixingui occurs in December, January, February.

When does capixingui flower?

Flowering of capixingui occurs in September, October, November.

What stage and stratum does capixingui occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, capixingui belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the high stratum.

Functions

🌿 Biomass producer 🪴 Nurse plant 🐝 Attracts pollinators 🍯 Melliferous Timber Fuelwood

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. IBFlorestas — Lista de espécies nativas: Capixingui (height_min_m, height_max_m, biomes, ecological_role)
  2. IPÊ — Flora regional, Croton floribundus (family, lifespan_years_min, lifespan_years_max, propagation)
  3. Wikipédia — Croton floribundus (family, genus, scientific_name, common_names)
  4. Embrapa — Espécies Arbóreas Brasileiras vol. 1: Capixingui (Croton floribundus) (phenology, height_min_m, height_max_m, propagation, cultivation_notes)

External references

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