REGENERATION THROUGH SPROUT FORMATION IN CHLOROCARDIUM-RODIEI (LAURACEAE) IN GUYANA

The contribution of sprouts to the long-term survival of Chlorocardium rodiei, following logging was investigated. Differently aged sprout p opulations on cut stumps were surveyed to determine the numbers of spr outs produced, probability of survival and growth rates. Fifty-five to 70% of the stumps produced sprouts. The proportion of stumps that spr outed was lower for the hollow stumps than for the intact ones and the number of sprouts produced per stump was reduced. No significant corr elation was found between stump diameter and the number of sprouts. So me sprouts survived for at least 15 y (usually one per stump), and the se had a significantly larger average diameter relative to the sprouts at younger sites. The number of sprouts and the diameter of the large st sprout showed a significant positive correlation, suggesting that t he maintenance of the inherited stump root system is shared among the sprouts so that the costs per sprout are reduced. We conclude that spr outing on cut stumps may have the potential to contribute to the maint enance of C. rodiei in the canopy at logged sites.