ARAGUANEY: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CARE, USES - BIOLOGY - 2024

The Araguaney (Handroanthus chrysanthus) is a medium-sized deciduous tree species belonging to the Bignoniaceae family. Known as cañahuate, yellow flower, yellow guayacán, lapacho, yellow oak, tajibo, zapatillo or zapito, it is a native tree of the American intertropical regions.

This species grows in dry forests on the edge of savannas, valleys or semi-arid hills up to altitudes over 1,400 meters above sea level. It is a slow-growing tree, with the ability to develop straight and upright, or slightly sinuous, depending on environmental conditions.

Handroanthus chrysanthus. Source: Cesar Pérez

Its really spectacular flowering occurs in a massive way, being more striking when the plant totally loses its leaves due to drought. This event occurs simultaneously in all specimens in a particular area, after occasional rainfall during the dry season.

The hard and compact wood is used for the manufacture of posts and rails used in railways. As well as for the elaboration of floors, parquets, plates, sports equipment and elements for construction in general.

Its common habitat, in addition to tropophilic forests or intertropical savannas, are also arid hills and plains. In addition, it beautifies parks, avenues, flasks, walkways and gardens.

The name Araguaney comes from the word "aravanei", the way the Carib Indians called it since ancient times. During the first months of the year, when nature adapts to the dry season, the araguaney covers the environment in a golden color.

This imposing tree was decreed as the National Tree of Venezuela on May 29, 1948, by decree of President Rómulo Gallegos. Its name of indigenous origin represents several species including the genus Tabebuia, of which its synonym Handroanthus chrysanthus is the representative species.

General characteristics

Appearance

In the wild, this species can reach 35 m in height and 50-60 cm in diameter at chest height. The trunk is compact, strong and straight with some thick branches in an ascending position.

The bark has a rough and deeply fissured surface of a grayish-brown color, with a corky appearance on the outside, whitish and bitter internally. The globular crown is regularly wide, and its deep root system is non-invasive.

Foliage

The opposite and digitate leaves have five leaflets 5-25 cm long by 8-20 cm wide. Slightly pubescent, brownish-green on the upper surface and dull-green on the underside, and they have a thin petiole 4-6 cm long.

flowers

Its large campanulate flowers, 5-12 cm long, are yellow with fine red lines on the neck. Sometimes they are grouped in umbelliferous inflorescences or short terminal flower clusters, or they are solitary but very numerous.

Detail of the flowers of Handroanthus chrysanthus. Source: pixabay.com

Fruit

The fruits are capsules or dehiscent cylindrical pods 10-35 cm long and 0.5-2 cm wide, dark brown in color. When they mature, they open longitudinally on both sides, releasing large numbers of winged seeds.

The flat seeds are 5 mm thick, 2-3 cm long and 1 cm wide. They are silver-gray in color and have a winged membrane that allows them to be dispersed through the wind.

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Order: Lamiales

- Family: Bignoniaceae

- Tribe: Tecomeae

- Genus: Handroanthus

- Species: Handroanthus chrysanthus (Jacq.) SO Grose

Etymology

- Handroanthus: the name of the genus was adopted in 1970 by JR Mattos to differentiate certain species of the genus Tabebuia. Handroanthus is an appellation used in honor of the Brazilian botanist Oswaldo Handro.

- chrysanthus: the specific adjective derives from the Latin word that means "with golden flowers."

Bark of Handroanthus chrysanthus. Source: Umsankwongc

Varieties

- Handroanthus chrysanthus subsp. meridionalis (AH Gentry) SO Grose

- Handroanthus chrysanthus subsp. pluvicola (AH Gentry) SO Grose

Synonymy

- Bignonia chrysantha Jacq.

- Handroanthus chrysanthus subsp. chrysanthus

- Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicholson

- Tabebuia rufescens JR Johnst.

- Tecoma chrysantha (Jacq.) DC.

- Tecoma evenia Donn. Ye.

- T. palmeri Kraenzl.

Subspecies

Subspecies meridionalis (AH Gentry) SO Grose

- Tabebuia chrysantha subsp. meridionalis AH Gentry

- Tabebuia spectabilis (Planch. & Linden) G. Nicholson

- Tecoma chrysantha subsp. meridionalis AH Gentry

- Tecoma spectabilis Planch. & Linden

Habitat and distribution

The Handroanthus chrysanthus species is native to Tropical America, from central Mexico through Central America, all the way to Colombia and Venezuela. It is located in an altitudinal range of 0-1,700 meters above sea level, with annual rainfall of 1,500-3,000 mm and an average temperature of 18-23 ºC.

It grows in regions with an intertropical savanna climate characteristic of the Venezuelan plains, even in semi-arid coastal areas in Venezuela and other tropical regions. It adapts to soils with a loamy or loamy-sandy texture, with excellent drainage and pH levels between 6-8.5.

This species requires full sun exposure, at least six hours of daily radiation and high relative humidity for its full development. In addition, it prefers hot climates, as it is susceptible to low temperatures. In North America it is located in areas with minimum temperatures of 9-11 ºC.

They are commonly found in tropical dry forests and are known for the particular color of their flowers, called the "tree of golden flowers." It is distributed naturally from Mexico and Guatemala, to Panama, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, where it is considered the "National Tree".

Araguaney in Flower. Source: José Reynaldo da Fonseca

Care

The araguaney is a slow-growing tree that requires the typical care of a forest species. Such as irrigation, fertilization, weeding, pest and disease control, as well as maintenance or sanitation pruning.

Flowering occurs once a year, the first being after 5-6 years after the tree was planted. It is a deciduous species, during flowering it loses its leaves, later it renews its foliage, remaining green until the next flowering.

Its edaphic requirements are not usually very rigorous, but it requires a porous and well-drained soil for its optimal development. Indeed, it requires a sandy-loam soil with a high content of organic matter, which maintains certain levels of humidity and fertility.

During its growth phase and establishment in the definitive terrain, it requires constant humidity avoiding prolonged periods of water deficit. Adult trees tend to be more resistant to certain levels of drought, without being severe.

Its location must be carried out in full sun exposure, although it does not cause problems in terms of invasive roots. In fact, this species does not cause the lifting of the ground, sidewalks or roads, nor does it obstruct drains, channels or water pipes.

On the other hand, it can be planted in coastal areas, as it is resistant to saline soils, sea spray and strong winds. It usually reaches more than 25 m in height, but in urban areas its size is reduced due to environmental conditions.

Leaves of Handroanthus chrysanthus. Source: Umsankwongc

Spread

Fruiting occurs between May-June, and the seeds are extracted directly from the fruits or are collected from the ground. Once selected, they are dried in a cool environment avoiding the sun's rays, stored in a cool environment they maintain their viability for three months.

To increase the storage time, the seeds are stored in glass containers at a temperature of 18 ° C and 7-8% humidity. Under these conditions the seeds remain viable for up to 12 months.

Germination can be accelerated by immersing the seeds in fresh water 24-48 hours before sowing. The germination process begins 7-15 days after sowing.

Sowing is carried out in polyethylene bags under nursery conditions, taking care of aspects such as humidity, temperature and weed control. Once the germination process has begun, the seedlings will be ready to transplant to the final site when they reach 40-50 cm in height or 6 months of age.

The araguaney is a slow growing tree so it requires continuous maintenance during the first growth phase. Most of the planted trees present certain deformations, branches with basal twists and some bifurcations, so maintenance pruning is convenient.

Pests

The seeds can be affected by the attack of weevils of the genus Amblycerus. Adult trees are frequently attacked by cutter ants of the genera Formica and Atta.

Flower mantle that generates the flowering of araguaney. Source: Elmer Junior Zambrano

Applications

Agroforestry

The araguaney can be grown in isolation or in groups in paddocks providing shade and shelter for livestock. Similarly it is used as living fences, windbreaks or shading for permanent crops.

Ecological

It is used for the stabilization of water courses and the protection of aquifers. Likewise, it is a species that contributes to the recovery of areas intervened by man and degraded.

Industrial

Hard, heavy and compact wood is used for the manufacture of building elements for interiors or exteriors. In addition, due to its high durability it is ideal for the production of railway sleepers, posts, bridge trusses and industrial floors.

On the other hand, it is used in cabinetmaking to make turned figures, musical instruments and handles of agricultural or construction tools. Likewise, this species is used in arboriculture projects and is considered a melliferous species.

Medicinal

The bark has active principles that, through cooking, allow it to be used for the treatment of malaria symptoms.

References

1. Araguaney Handroanthus chrysanthus (2018) Naturalist. Recovered in: naturalista.mx
2. El Araguaney (2015) PDVSA Ecological Bulletin. Series: Emblematic Trees of Venezuela. Environment Management. Ministry of the Popular Power of Petroleum.
3. Handroanthus chrysanthus. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
4. Handroanthus chrysanthus (2014) Virtual catalog of flora of the Aburrá Valley. Recovered at: catalogofloravalleaburra.eia.edu.co
5. Handroanthus chrysanthus (Jacq.) SO Grose (2015) Species for IUCN restoration. Recovered in: speciesrestauracion-uicn.org
6. Pennington, Terrence D. and José Sarukhán. (2005). Tropical trees of Mexico. Manual for the identification of the main species. 3rd. Edition, Mexico.
7. Villacis Rivas, G., Aguirre Mendoza, Z., González, A., Benítez González, E., & Aguirre Mendoza, N. (2015). Past, Present and Future of the “Guayacanes” Handroanthus Chrysanthus (Jacq.) So Grose And Handroanthus Billbergii (Bureau & K. Schum.) So Grose, From Los Bosques Secos De Loja, Ecuador. ARNALDOA, 22 (1), 85-104.