Underground trees are a rare clonal growth form. In this survey we describe the branching pattern and estimate the age of the underground tree Jacaranda decurrens Cham. (Bignoniaceae), an endangered species from the Brazilian Cerrado, with a crown diameter of 22 meters. The mean age calculated for the individual was 3,801 years, making it one of the oldest known living Neotropical plants.
Bignoniaceae; cerrado; campo rupestre; longevity; underground trees
| segment | ramet length (cm) per meter of genet radius | years∕m | Age (y) |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-A | 246 | 362 | 3,982 |
| X-B | 215 | 317 | 3,484 |
| X-C | 331 | 486 | 5,351 |
| X-D | 267 | 392 | 4,314 |
| X-E | 280 | 412 | 4,529 |
| X-F | 238 | 351 | 3,857 |
| X-G | 236 | 347 | 3,816 |
| X-H | 235 | 346 | 3,808 |
| X-I | 237 | 348 | 3,833 |
| X-J | 162 | 238 | 2,613 |
| X-K | 211 | 311 | 3,418 |
| X-L | 199 | 293 | 3,223 |
| X-M | 197 | 290 | 3,186 |
| Mean | 235 | 218 | 3,801 |
| Ramet | A | B | C | D | E | mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramet length (cm) | 22.5 | 19 | 27 | 18.5 | 25.5 | 22.5 |
| Mean no. of growth rings | 32 | 30 | 41 | 29 | 33 | 33 |
| growth rate cm∕y | 0.70 | 0.63 | 0.66 | 0.64 | 0.77 | 0.68 |
