Architectural patterns of eight Cecropia (Cecropiaceae) species of Brazil

Architectural patterns of eight Cecropia species were studied in Amazonian and Southeastern Brazil. Height, diameter, height of first branching, numbe r of branches and leaves, leaf area, internode length and branching ratio w ere measured for undamaged trees. The Amazonian species C. concolor; C. pal mata, C. purpurascens, C. ulei and C. sciadophylla were studied in Manaus. Cecropia galziovii, C. hololeuca and C. pachyshachya were studied in Linhar es, Espirito Santo. All except C. hololeuca and C. sciadophylla are myrmeco phytes. In both areas, size and architectural characters are displayed as a gradient from open habitats to forest. Cecropia hololeuca and C. sciadophy lla are common in forests and had similar architectures, with low branching ratios, and a height of first branch of around 9 m, about 3 m higher than the other species. The branching pattern of both species and the maximum he ight recorded (approximate to 20-25 m respectively) allow them to remain in the canopy longer than the other Cecropia species. Cecropia concolor and C . pachystachya measure up to 13 m in height and are typical of open habitat s. The remaining species occupy forest margins and are intermediates betwee n these two extremes.