The seedpod gum of Parkia pendula (Fabaceae) as a deadly trap for vertebrates

Authors

  • Daniel Piechowski Institute of Systematic Botany
  • Gerhard Gottsberger Botanical Garden and Herbarium

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-7925.2009v22n1p175

Abstract

In the literature, it has been mentioned that the seedpod gum of Parkia pendula is used for catching birds. Here we present an observation of a Tropidurus hispidus individual that died after being glued to the substrate by the gum of P. pendula in the Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco State. This observation proves the enormous gluing performance of this gum, which can be considered as a potential danger for small vertebrates.

Author Biographies

Daniel Piechowski, Institute of Systematic Botany

Institute of Systematic Botany and Ecology, Ulm University
Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany

Gerhard Gottsberger, Botanical Garden and Herbarium

Botanical Garden and Herbarium, Ulm University
Hans-Krebs-Weg, 89081 Ulm, Germany

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Published

2009-08-31

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2009)

Section

Artigos

License

After the electronic publication of the manuscript, the authors are entitled, without any restriction, on its contents.

License Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional - CC BY

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