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diesel tree

Copaifera langsdorffii Desf.

Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Copaifera

copaiba, copal

Climax High Mulch biomass
Márcia Martins · CC BY · iNaturalist

Climax Cerrado and Atlantic Forest legume; produces medicinal oil from trunk exudates. Pasini lists it in the high stratum of Tabela 3 and in the '+50 years' phase of Tabela 4 (high stratum). Premium timber.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Climax
Ecological role
Climax
Primary stratum
High
Strata
High, Emergent
Biomass class
Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
High
Soil pH range
4.5–7.5
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy

Morphology

Mature height
10–35 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
≥ 200 years
Time to first harvest
120 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Diesel tree takes the High stratum in the Climax 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 · ≈35 m Medium Low Ground cover

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: December, January, February, March

Fruiting months: July, August, September, October

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of diesel tree?

The first harvest of diesel tree comes around 120 months after planting.

How tall does diesel tree grow?

At maturity, diesel tree reaches 10–35 m tall.

When does diesel tree fruit?

Fruiting of diesel tree occurs in July, August, September, October.

When does diesel tree flower?

Flowering of diesel tree occurs in December, January, February, March.

What stage and stratum does diesel tree occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, diesel tree belongs to the climax stage, occupying the high stratum.

Functions

Medicinal Timber 🍯 Melliferous

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Conceitos e princípios práticos da agrofloresta sucessional, Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 4 (arranjo agroflorestal por estrato e tempo) , p. 120 (gotsch_stage)
  3. Useful Tropical Plants — Copaifera langsdorffii (ph_min, ph_max, growth_rate, drought_tolerance, root_system, root_depth, propagation, soil_texture_preference, height_max_m)
  4. Sitio da Mata — Copaíba (Copaifera langsdorffii): fenologia, germinação e mudas (phenology, propagation, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  5. POWO / Kew — Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (external_ids)
  6. GBIF — Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (accepted, key 2978171) (external_ids)

External references

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