Lecythidaceae 1745 Mammals (E.G., Squirrels and Monkeys) and fish May Lecythidaceae Also Be Important Dispersers
TROPICAL FORESTS / Lecythidaceae 1745 mammals (e.g., squirrels and monkeys) and fish may Lecythidaceae also be important dispersers. S A Mori, New York Botanical Garden, New York, USA & 2004, Elsevier Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Economic Uses Historically, the Lauraceae is a very important economic family, especially the genus Cinnamomum, Introduction as a source of spices, e.g., cinnamon (C. verum), cassia bark (C. cassia) and laurel (Laurus nobilis), The Lecythidaceae is a pantropical family of trees perfume oils, e.g., rosewood oil (Aniba roseodora) found in the tropics of Central and South America, and sassafras oil (Ocotea odorifera), and pharma- southeast Asia, and Africa, including Madagascar ceuticals, e.g., camphor (C. camphora). However, the (Table 1). The family is divided into five subfamilies: most internationally important product produced (1) the Planchonioideae, with six genera, the best today is the avocado fruit (Persea americana). known of which is Barringtonia, and 59 species in Lauraceae wood is widely used locally, although a tropical Asia, Malaysia, northern Australia, the few are internationally important as high-quality Pacific Islands, and Madagascar; (2) the Foetidioi- timbers for furniture making or for resistance to salt deae, with a single genus, Foetidia, and 17 species in water, e.g., greenheart (Chlorocardium rodiaei), Madagascar, Mauritius, and East Africa; (3) the Borneo ironwood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), and Napoleonaeoideae, with two genera, Crateranthus Queensland walnut (Endiandra palmerstonii). Some and Naopoleonaea, and 11 species in West Africa; (4) species (e.g., Ocotea bullata), once internationally the Scytopetaloideae, with a single species, Aster- important, are now protected because of past over- anthos brasiliensis, in the Negro and Orinoco river exploitation.
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