Pollination biology and seed production of dioeciousCaryodendron orinocense (Euphorbiaceae) in a plantation in coastal Ecuador

Caryodendron orinocense Karst. (Euphorbiaceae) is an important neotropical, dioecious crop tree providing oil—and protein-rich seeds. Increases in size and number of leaves, flowers, and fruits were estimated for 100 trees in a plantation in costal Ecuador. Height increase was one meter per year—female trees grew less than non-flowering and male individuals. Trees matured at about 4 m height, but flowering and production of fruits remained low until tree height exceeded 8 m. Flowering and leaf production started at the beginning of the rainy season, and flowers were pollinated by large flies. Foliage damage did not seriously reduce leaf number nor fruit production. The plantation studied yielded 150 kg seeds per hectare per year. A plantation with 10 m high trees and a sex ratio of nine females per male will produce 500 kg seeds per hectare per year after about 12 years. Production will increase much more in older plantations.