Calliandra calothyrsus: implications of plant taxonomy, ecology and biology for seed collection

Abstract

The Oxford Forestry Institute has recently begun seed collections of Calliandra calothyrsus for eventual inclusion in international provenance trials. The importance of the species in agroforestry throughout the tropics is described. Information on the species taxonomy. habit, ecological amplitude, and reproductive biology is presented and its implications for the seed collection strategy are discussed. Guidelines for sampling are included and the process of provenance delimitation is described. Specific details including topographical, political, climatic. edaphic, and ecological maps of the provenance sites are given. The ability to achieve real improvement in species performance is discussed in relation to the perceived potential and limitations of the species in agroforestry systems