An evolutionary and ecological perspective of Amazonian Hylaea species of Hymeneae (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae)

Abstract

The resin-producing genus Hymenaea has an amphi-Atlantic distribution with 13 species being Neotropical and one occurring along the eastern coast of Africa. Present evidence suggests an African origin for the genus with migration across the Atlantic occurring during the Early Tertiary when the continents were closer and rainforest vegetation was considerably more widely distributed than today. The center of its Neotropical distribution is the Amazonian hylaea, although within its extensive range from 23° N to 26° S it is found in all major ecosystem types. The taxonomy, breeding structure, ecology and resin chemistry of the 9 Hymenaea species and 6 varieties occurring in the Amazonian and historically-related Brazilian Atlantic coastal humid evergreen forests are discussed as well as the possible evolution of these species in response to postulated drying trends beguen in Mid Tertiary times and during wet-dry oscillations in the Pleistocene.

A review of amber and copal occurrences in Africa and their paleontological significance

“…The presence of abundant liverworts assignable to Lejeuneaceae similarly indicates a humid tropical forest. Ethiopian amber was thus derived from Hymenaea trees likely growing in evergreen rainforests, rather than in dry environments like some recent Hymenaea species (Langenheim et al, 1973).…”

Phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical genus Mezilaurus and reestablishment of Clinostemon (Lauraceae)

“…This result also suggests an Amazon origin of Mezilaurus with subsequent expansion to the Brazilian savanna (cerrado) and later to the Atlantic Forest. Therefore, genera containing many species in the Amazon, such as Mezilaurus, have a tendency to contain few species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest as suggested by Langenheim & al. (1973).…”

Estrutura genética e diversidade clonal de jatobá-do-cerrado (Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne) em duas populações no Cerrado do Estado de São Paulo

“…Podem ser usadas em esculturas, na fabricação de jóias (índios pré-colombianos já as utilizavam para esses fins), como cimento, incenso, e até, quando dissolvidas em xilol, no preparo de lâminas permanentes para a microscopia LANGENHEIM, 1975). Conhecidas também como copal sul americano são utilizadas na fabricação de vernizes e com fins medicinais (LANGENHEIM; LEE; MARTIN, 1973). A extração ocorre por meio do processo de sangria do tronco ou por escavação do solo, onde a resina se acumula.…”