The Cecropias of Manaus

Cecropias are often remembered for their mutualistic relationship with ants, especially those of the genus Azteca. In exchange for shelter inside their hollow trunks and food (Müllerian bodies and pearl bodies), the ants defend the plant against herbivores and remove competing vines.

But it’s not just ants that benefit from Cecropias. Many animals depend on these plants, incorporating their leaves, fruits, and flowers into their diets. Notable examples include sloths, iguanas, and toucans. In addition to being a vital resource for fauna, Cecropias are pioneer species that play a crucial role in ecosystem restoration.

One of the most abundant Cecropias in Manaus is Cecropia concolor, known as the embaúba-branca due to the whitish undersides of its leaves, stipules, and petioles. Adapted to highly degraded habitats, it occurs from forest edges to the most inhospitable urban environments. It is found throughout much of the Brazilian Amazon, as well as in Bolivia and southeastern Peru.

Cecropia distachya: Known as the embaúba-vermelha or embaúba-da-mata. Unlike Cecropia concolor, it is highly associated with well-preserved environments, such as the interiors and edges of primary forests in the Amazon. It can exceed 30 meters in height and is notable for the beauty of its reddish veins and purple stipules.

Cecropia latiloba: Known as the embaúba-da-várzea, it is abundant in flood-prone depressions (chavascais) and islands along the Solimões River, often forming dense stands of Cecropias. Present in all Amazonian countries, it thrives in flood-prone areas. In Manaus, it is mainly found along the edges of altered streams, especially near the Rio Negro, in areas influenced by seasonal flood pulses.

Cecropia membranacea: Also associated with wet areas, but less adapted to prolonged flooding than Cecropia latiloba. Imposing and robust, it can reach great heights. In Manaus, it is abundant along stream edges, forming notable stands of Cecropias. It is one of the most widely distributed species in the Amazon and one of the few found both east and west of the Andes.

Cecropia palmata: Found in Central and Eastern Amazonia and the Guiana Shield, it extends into the Zona da Mata in Northeastern Brazil, reaching Bahia. It may occur alongside Cecropia concolor in anthropized areas but is more typical of forest fragments and their edges, being less adapted to degraded environments. It stands out for its staminate spikes, among the thickest in the genus.

Cecropia purpurascens: A species restricted to the Guiana Endemism Center, found only in northeastern Amazonas, southeastern Roraima, and northwestern Pará. Typical of Manaus, it thrives in well-preserved terra firme forests. It stands out, even from a distance, for its slightly lobed, rounded leaves, distinguishing it from other Cecropias in the region.

Cecropia sciadophylla: A widely distributed species in the Amazon, restricted to well-preserved terra firme forests, where it is abundant in clearings and edges. These robust trees can reach great heights. It is the only Amazonian species that is non-myrmecophytic (lacking mutualism with ants), and therefore does not have trichilia (hair tufts where Müllerian bodies form). Its leaves are distinctive, with numerous narrow segments resembling compound leaves.

Cecropia ulei: Restricted to Central Amazonia, it is recorded only in Amazonas and Pará, with probable occurrences in southeastern Roraima and northern Rondônia. Common in Manaus, it is still a little-known species, perhaps due to its smaller size. It features narrow lobes and irritating trichomes on branches, petioles, and peduncles. It is frequent in secondary forests but absent in heavily degraded areas.

Cecropia ficifolia: Although not recorded in Manaus, it occurs in neighboring municipalities within the metropolitan region. It is not commonly cited in Central Amazonia but is well known in Western Amazonia, especially in Colombia and Peru. Small to medium in size, it is abundant along the edges of terra firme forests. Its leaves can have a distinct spatula-like shape, with the lobe apex abruptly widened.

But it doesn’t stop there! Manaus is also home to three other species still unknown to science, currently in the process of being described. The species richness of this region is the highest ever recorded outside the Andes. These species, along with the others discussed here, will be richly detailed in the forthcoming work 'Natural History of Cecropias and Identification Guide to the Species of Manaus'.