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Coccoloba Gigantifolia: The Amazonian Tree Species with Human-Sized Leaves

by David Walker Leave a Comment

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Coccoloba gigantifolia, a rare tree species found in the Brazilian Amazon with leaves reaching up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) in length, has finally been identified and named by researchers after more than 35 years since it was first observed. The discovery of its true identity is a significant milestone as it enables the assessment of its conservation status and aids in designing conservation strategies.

Decades of Mystery

The tree, belonging to the genus Coccoloba, was first sighted in 1982 by botanists from the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) during an expedition in the Madeira River Basin in the Brazilian Amazon. Despite the researchers encountering more individuals of the same tree species in subsequent expeditions, they were unable to name it due to the absence of flowers or fruits, which are crucial to describing a plant species. They did, however, document the tree’s characteristics and take photographs.

Coccoloba gigantifolia leaves can reach 2.5 meters (8 feet) in length. Image courtesy of Rogério Gribel.

Years of Patience

It was not until 2005 that researchers Rogério Gribel and Carlos Alberto Cid Ferreira were able to collect seeds and flowers from a tree in Jamari National Forest. The materials, however, were not enough to describe the tree’s species. After sowing the seeds on INPA’s campus and waiting for 13 years, one of the planted trees finally flourished and fruited in 2018, providing the botanical material they needed to name and describe the new species.

Coccoloba gigantifolia. Image courtesy of Rogério Gribel.

The Discovery

Gribel and his colleagues published a paper in Acta Amazonica, describing the new species as Coccoloba gigantifolia, referring to its giant leaves. The species can grow up to 15 meters (49 feet) in height, and its leaves are likely the largest among dicotyledonous plants, which include sunflowers, hibiscus, tomatoes, and roses.

Coccoloba gigantifolia. Image by Silvestre Silva.

Importance of Naming

Formally identifying and naming the tree species was crucial to cataloging the national flora and assessing its conservation status. Without an official name, it was challenging to recognize its existence and regulate its collection, trade, transport, planting, and more. Now that the tree has been named, conservation measures can be implemented to protect it from extinction.

Conservation Concerns

Coccoloba gigantifolia is likely rare and has disjointed populations due to the rapidly changing landscape of the Amazon. The researchers recommend listing it as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.

Leaf Leadership

According to Gribel, comparing leaf sizes between species can be difficult due to variations within the same species. However, C. gigantifolia’s leaves are believed to be the largest among dicotyledonous plants. While some species of the genus Gunnera also have huge leaves, they are not arboreal like C. gigantifolia.

Celebrating the Discovery

Gribel expressed his pride and happiness in finally identifying the species after years of tracking it. The exhibit of the dried leaf at INPA, which had been a local attraction for decades, has now been replaced with a plaque featuring the tree’s name and its official description.

Researchers found Coccoloba gigantifolia at two spots close to the Madeira River and BR-319: near Manaus in Amazonas state (inset A) and Porto Velho in Rondônia (inset B). Satellite data from the University of Maryland show that these areas have experienced heavy deforestation over the past couple decades. Source: GLAD/UMD, accessed through Global Forest Watch.
Zooming in on the northern site (inset A on the map above) reveals areas of recent forest loss encroaching on the approximate locations where researchers recorded the newly described species. Source: GLAD/UMD, accessed through Global Forest Watch; Melo et al., 2019.
Coccoloba gigantifolia was also recorded in two spots near Porto Velho. The region is part of the so-called “arc of deforestation,” where agricultural expansion has razed much of the rainforest along the underbelly of the Brazilian Amazon. The northernmost of these sites is in an unprotected area that was flooded by the Samuel hydroelectric dam in the 1990s. The other site is located within Jamari National Forest near a wetland (blue inset) that is showing signs of forest loss. Sources: GLAD/UMD, accessed through Global Forest Watch; Melo et al., 2019.
Satellite imagery shows water levels of the wetland near where Coccoloba gigantifolia was found in Jamari National Forest were far lower in October 2019 than in years past. Source: Planet Labs.

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