Sideroxylon grandiflorum, known as tambalacoque or dodo tree, is a long-lived mesocaul tree in the sapote family Sapotaceae, superfiially resembling the unrelated Plumeria, but the Dodo Tree's flowers and fruit are cauliflorous.[2]endemic to Mauritius. It is valued for its timber. The Sideroxylon grandiflorum fruit is analogous to the peach. They are both termed drupes because both have a hard endocarp, or pit, surrounding the seed,
In 1973, it was thought that this species was dying out. There were supposedly only 13 specimens left, all estimated to be about 300 years old. The true age could not be determined because tambalacoque has no growth rings. Stanley Temple hypothesized that the dodo, which became extinct in the 17th century, ate tambalacoque fruits, and only by passing through the digestive tract of the dodo could the seeds germinate. Temple (1977) force-fed seventeen tambalacoque fruits to wild turkeys. Seven of the fruits were crushed by the bird's gizzard. The remaining ten were either regurgitated or passed with the bird's feces. Temple planted the remaining ten fruits and three germinated. Temple did not try to germinate any seeds from control fruits not fed to turkeys so the effect of feeding fruits to turkeys was unclear. Reports made on tambalacoque seed germination by Hill (1941) and King (1946) found the seeds germinated without abrading...
Temple's hypothesis that the tree required the dodo was contested. Others have suggested the decline of the tree was exaggerated, or that other extinct animals may also have been distributing the seeds, such as tortoises, fruit bats or the broad-billed parrot. Wendy Strahm and Anthony Cheke, two experts in Mascareneecology, claim that while a rare tree, it has germinated since the demise of the dodo and numbers a few hundred, not 13.[citation needed] The difference in numbers is because young trees are not distinct in appearance and may easily be confused with similar species. The decline of the tree may possibly be due to introduction of domestic pigs and crab-eating macaques, and competition from introduced plants. Catling (2001) in a summary cites Owadally and Temple (1979), and Witmer (1991). Hershey (2004) reviewed the flaws in Temple's dodo-tambalacoque hypothesis.
In 2004, Botanical Society of America's Plant Science Bulletin disputed Temple's research as flawed. The Bulletin published evidence as to why the dodo's extinction did not directly cause the increasing disappearance of young trees, including suggestions that tortoises would have been more likely to disperse the seeds than dodos, casting doubt on Temple's view as to the dodo and the tree's sole survival relationship.[3]
Uses
This dodo tree is highly valued for its wood in Mauritius, which has led some foresters to scrape the pits by hand to make them sprout and grow.[4]
See also
Sideroxylon majus, a species native to Réunion, that has been confounded with Sideroxylon grandiflorum (particularly under its synonym Calvaria major)
^Herhey, David R (2004). "The Widespread Misconception that the Tambalacoque or Calvaria Tree Absolutely Required the Dodo Bird for its Seeds to Germinate". Plant Science Bulletin. 50 (4). ISSN 0032-0919.
^Ellis, Richard (2004). No Turning Back: The Life and Death of Animal Species. New York: Harper Perennial. pp. 164. ISBN0-06-055804-0.
External links
Catling, P. M. (2001): Extinction and the importance of history and dependence in conservation. Biodiversity 2(3): 2-13
Helfferich, C. (1990): The Turkey and the Tambalacoque Tree
Hershey, D. R. (2004): The widespread misconception that the tambalacoque absolutely required the dodo for its seeds to germinate. Plant Science Bulletin 50: 105–108.
Hill, A. W. (1941): The genus Calvaria, with an account of the stony endocarp and germination of the seed, and description of the new species. Annals of Botany5(4): 587–606. PDF fulltext (requires user account)
King, H. C. (1946): Interim Report on Indigenous Species in Mauritius. Port Louis, Mauritius: Government Printer.
Owadally, A. W. & Temple, Stanley A. (1979): The dodo and the tambalacoque tree. Science203(4387): 1363–1364.
Quammen, David (1996): The Song of the Dodo: Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction. Touchstone, New York. ISBN0-684-82712-3
Temple, Stanley A. (1977): Plant-animal mutualism: coevolution with Dodo leads to near extinction of plant. Science197(4306): 885–886. HTML abstract
Witmer, M. C. & Cheke, A. S. (1991): The dodo and the tambalacoque tree: an obligate mutualism reconsidered. Oikos61(1): 133–137. HTML abstract
January 31, 2023
sideroxylon, grandiflorum, known, tambalacoque, dodo, tree, long, lived, mesocaul, tree, sapote, family, sapotaceae, superfiially, resembling, unrelated, plumeria, dodo, tree, flowers, fruit, cauliflorous, endemic, mauritius, valued, timber, fruit, analogous, . Sideroxylon grandiflorum known as tambalacoque or dodo tree is a long lived mesocaul tree in the sapote family Sapotaceae superfiially resembling the unrelated Plumeria but the Dodo Tree s flowers and fruit are cauliflorous 2 endemic to Mauritius It is valued for its timber The Sideroxylon grandiflorum fruit is analogous to the peach They are both termed drupes because both have a hard endocarp or pit surrounding the seed Sideroxylon grandiflorumYoung treeScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder EricalesFamily SapotaceaeGenus SideroxylonSpecies S grandiflorumBinomial nameSideroxylon grandiflorumA DC Synonyms 1 Calvaria grandiflora A DC Dubard Sapota lessertii A DC Sideroxylon annithomae Aubrev Sideroxylon lessertii A DC Baker Calvaria major Contents 1 History 2 Uses 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory Edit Preserved seeds In 1973 it was thought that this species was dying out There were supposedly only 13 specimens left all estimated to be about 300 years old The true age could not be determined because tambalacoque has no growth rings Stanley Temple hypothesized that the dodo which became extinct in the 17th century ate tambalacoque fruits and only by passing through the digestive tract of the dodo could the seeds germinate Temple 1977 force fed seventeen tambalacoque fruits to wild turkeys Seven of the fruits were crushed by the bird s gizzard The remaining ten were either regurgitated or passed with the bird s feces Temple planted the remaining ten fruits and three germinated Temple did not try to germinate any seeds from control fruits not fed to turkeys so the effect of feeding fruits to turkeys was unclear Reports made on tambalacoque seed germination by Hill 1941 and King 1946 found the seeds germinated without abrading Temple s hypothesis that the tree required the dodo was contested Others have suggested the decline of the tree was exaggerated or that other extinct animals may also have been distributing the seeds such as tortoises fruit bats or the broad billed parrot Wendy Strahm and Anthony Cheke two experts in Mascarene ecology claim that while a rare tree it has germinated since the demise of the dodo and numbers a few hundred not 13 citation needed The difference in numbers is because young trees are not distinct in appearance and may easily be confused with similar species The decline of the tree may possibly be due to introduction of domestic pigs and crab eating macaques and competition from introduced plants Catling 2001 in a summary cites Owadally and Temple 1979 and Witmer 1991 Hershey 2004 reviewed the flaws in Temple s dodo tambalacoque hypothesis In 2004 Botanical Society of America s Plant Science Bulletin disputed Temple s research as flawed The Bulletin published evidence as to why the dodo s extinction did not directly cause the increasing disappearance of young trees including suggestions that tortoises would have been more likely to disperse the seeds than dodos casting doubt on Temple s view as to the dodo and the tree s sole survival relationship 3 Uses EditThis dodo tree is highly valued for its wood in Mauritius which has led some foresters to scrape the pits by hand to make them sprout and grow 4 See also EditSideroxylon majus a species native to Reunion that has been confounded with Sideroxylon grandiflorum particularly under its synonym Calvaria major References Edit The Plant List Downes Jonathan ed 1997 C F Z yearbook Woolsery England C F Z Press pp 136 137 Herhey David R 2004 The Widespread Misconception that the Tambalacoque or Calvaria Tree Absolutely Required the Dodo Bird for its Seeds to Germinate Plant Science Bulletin 50 4 ISSN 0032 0919 Ellis Richard 2004 No Turning Back The Life and Death of Animal Species New York Harper Perennial pp 164 ISBN 0 06 055804 0 External links EditCatling P M 2001 Extinction and the importance of history and dependence in conservation Biodiversity 2 3 2 13 pdf Helfferich C 1990 The Turkey and the Tambalacoque Tree Hershey D R 2004 The widespread misconception that the tambalacoque absolutely required the dodo for its seeds to germinate Plant Science Bulletin 50 105 108 Hill A W 1941 The genus Calvaria with an account of the stony endocarp and germination of the seed and description of the new species Annals of Botany 5 4 587 606 PDF fulltext requires user account King H C 1946 Interim Report on Indigenous Species in Mauritius Port Louis Mauritius Government Printer Owadally A W amp Temple Stanley A 1979 The dodo and the tambalacoque tree Science 203 4387 1363 1364 Quammen David 1996 The Song of the Dodo Island Biogeography in an Age of Extinction Touchstone New York ISBN 0 684 82712 3 Temple Stanley A 1977 Plant animal mutualism coevolution with Dodo leads to near extinction of plant Science 197 4306 885 886 HTML abstract Witmer M C amp Cheke A S 1991 The dodo and the tambalacoque tree an obligate mutualism reconsidered Oikos 61 1 133 137 HTML abstract Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sideroxylon grandiflorum amp oldid 1125040103, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
