Morphological and growth characteristics in brachylaena huillensis (muhugu); some management considerations.

Abstract

Investigations on relations of crown and stem forms revealed that Brachylaena huillensis (muhugu) has a crown that is much deeper than is wide. Comparisons with other local trees of approximately known light exposure requirements during their growth suggest that the tree is shade tolerant, at least in the early part of its life. After a seedling is well established, crown development starts as slender conical crown in light-restricted juvenility which expands into a wider but not expanding crown in emergent old age. Growth in height and crown declines significantly when bole diameter at breast height reaches about 45 cm and crown start deteriorating. For stems above 45 cm dbh, 28% were either dead or seriously rotting.