- Cavanillesia platanifolia
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Cavanillesia platanifolia Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Subfamily: Bombacoideae Genus: Cavanillesia Species: C. platanifolia Binomial name Cavanillesia platanifolia
(H.&.B.) H.B.K.Cuipo Tree
Cavanillesia Platanifolia
Description:
Cuipo (pronounced “kwee-po”) is a very distinctive tree that is easy to spot and is located primarily in the Central American tropical rainforest's in mountainous areas. Its height ranges from 45 to 60 meters. It has leaves only at the topand is bare 11 months out of the year. It has rings on its bark that extend to the top tomake is easily recognizable. Its bark is reddish or gray in color. Its roots are lightreddish-brown or yellowish-brown. The endangered national bird of Panama; the great Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) usually builds its nest at the top of the Cuipo tree.
Habitat and Distribution:
The cuipo tree is located primarily in Central American tropi-cal rain forests in mountainous areas. Coming from Tropical America, Cuipo is an endangered species. Wood of Cuipo has been used to replace balsa in construction and has been the material used for constructing canoes and making food containers. The bark of a young tree is sometimes used to make ropes. However, the endangerment of Cuipo is not due to the demand for the wood, but more the lack of habitat, with 150 acres of rainforest's being lost every minute of every day. Stop the destruction of rainforest today by sponsoring a meter of rainforest today!
Source
- Mitré, M. 1998. Cavanillesia platanifolia. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 19 July 2007.
- www.cuipo.org
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