Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Cedrela mexicana M. Roem.; Pennington et al. (1981) as Cedrela adenophylla Mart.

Taxon origin: Introduced - established

Trophic role: Primary producer

Reproductive biology: Individuals begin to bear fruit from 10 years of age. The fruit is a capsule that opens when mature, releasing the winged seeds that are dispersed by wind over long distances.

Growth form: Trees

Distribution origin: Central Mexico, Brazil

Economic Use: Used for timber.

Mode of introduction: Intentional

Status in Galapagos: Naturalized

Aggressive status: Transformer

Impact in Galapagos: In Galapagos the tree is very invasive. The seedlings are shade tolerant and grow up through the native canopy where adults shade out other plants. Chemicals produced from their roots also inhibit the growth of other plants (allelopathy).

Control methods elsewhere: The seedlings should be pulled manually, while adults can be cut and the sprouts controlled with chemicals. 

Known Pest elsewhere: Tropics and Pacific Islands

Year of first record: 1965

Year of introduction: 1950

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Floreana, Isabela, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, originally from Central Mexico, Brazil.

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