Cecropia pachystachya
Cecropia
Rau-Māniota RR
f.CECROPIACEAE
Cecropias
Cecropia pachystachya
Cecropia
Rau-Māniota RR
f.CECROPIACEAE
Cecropias
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesCecropia EN Pumpwood EN
Local NamesRau-māniotaRR
Pacific NamesNo Content
Sci. NamesCecropia pachystachya (accepted name)
, Cecropia adenopus, Cecropia obtusifolia, Cecropia palmata, Cecropia peltata
High Tax. Eng.k.Plants, p.Flowering Plants, f.Cecropias - a tree
High Tax. Latink.PLANTAE, p.ANTHOPHYTA, c.MAGNOLIOPSIDA, sc.HAMAMELIDAE, o.Urticales, f.CECROPIACEAE
Natl. PresencePresent
Sth. PresenceRR++++MG-AT-MK-MT-AK-PL-MN-TK-
Nth. PresenceTN-MH-RK-PK-NS-SW-
VouchersRR2003
Local OriginIntroduced; Recent; Naturalised
Global RangeNative: Brazil - Paraquay - Argentina;
HabitatLand; Lowlands, Horticultural Zone; Uplands
ThreatenedNo Content
InvasivenessInvasive; Wilderness - serious; by out-competing plants
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusNo Content
Harmful StatusNo Content
UsesNo Content
IdentificationAn open-branching tree to 15m. BRANCHES with core of hollow cylindrical capsules. LEAVES terminal clusters, alternate, ~round, large, to 50cmØ; divided almost to the leaf-base into 9-11(-13) finger-like lobes, central lobe to 30x9cm with 1-3 sub-lobmore...es each side; above green with minute bristles; below downy, pale green; stalk long, to 50cm. FLOWERS unisexual trees; flowers minute on finger-like spikes; MALE spikes, pale yellow, usually 5-6 (4-10), to 12x0.6cmØ, spathe 13cm, stalk 13cm; FEMALE spikes, pale green, usually 4 (3-5), 7x0.7cmØ, spathe 9cm, stalk 9cm; expanding with fruit to 14x1.5cmØ and green. FRUIT tiny, ovoid, 3x1mm. SEED one, ovoid, 2x1mm. In HAWAI‘I obtusifolia differs in having leaf-stalks and veins very dark; MALE spikes longer and more slender (to 18x0.4cmØ, spathe to 20cm); and FEMALE spikes longer and more slender (to 30x0.5cmØ, expanding to 0.9cmØ in fruit, spathe 16-20cm)
Similar SpeciesNone.
Interest NoteThe more than 100 species of Cecropia of Central and South Amore...merica are famous for supporting colonies of aggressive stinging ants of the genus Azteca.
The trees grow one section, called an internode, and then develops another leaf. The lengthening internode has a soft pith surrounded by very hard capsule of sclerenchyma. The pith is withdrawn to leave a hollow cylindrical capsule with a little pith on the walls, and woody tissue grows on the outside of the capsule.
The founding queen ant lands on a young sappling and eats through a special structure, the prostoma, to enter and seal herself inside the hollow internodal capsule. Sealed inside she raises her first batch of worker ants. The workers reopen the door and spend their lives gathering the glycogen food beads produced by a special structure, the trichilium, at the base of young leaves.
The relationship looks like mutualism, although there is some debate. In some cases the ants prevent the growth of vines and reduce the activity of herbivorous insects, but at other times the tree does not appear to benefit. The ants clearly benefit by having a secure home and a source of food. [adapted from John T. Longino, The Cecropia-Azteca association in Costa Rica, 12/1997, Internet]
The trees grow one section, called an internode, and then develops another leaf. The lengthening internode has a soft pith surrounded by very hard capsule of sclerenchyma. The pith is withdrawn to leave a hollow cylindrical capsule with a little pith on the walls, and woody tissue grows on the outside of the capsule.
The founding queen ant lands on a young sappling and eats through a special structure, the prostoma, to enter and seal herself inside the hollow internodal capsule. Sealed inside she raises her first batch of worker ants. The workers reopen the door and spend their lives gathering the glycogen food beads produced by a special structure, the trichilium, at the base of young leaves.
The relationship looks like mutualism, although there is some debate. In some cases the ants prevent the growth of vines and reduce the activity of herbivorous insects, but at other times the tree does not appear to benefit. The ants clearly benefit by having a secure home and a source of food. [adapted from John T. Longino, The Cecropia-Azteca association in Costa Rica, 12/1997, Internet]
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Threatened
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Biosecurity
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Species Uses
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.03.23 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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