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Velvet tree Facts

Velvet tree Facts
Velvet tree is an evergreen plant that belongs to the melastome family. It originates from Central and South America. Thanks to its ornamental morphology and extremely invasive nature, velvet tree can be found around the world today. Velvet tree is on the list of 100 most invasive plants on the planet. It usually grows in wet and tropical rainforests on the altitude of 147 to 6.500 feet. Velvet tree easily occupies new areas and creates shade (blocks the sunlight) which prevents growth and development of the understory plants. People cultivate velvet tree mostly in ornamental purposes.
Interesting Velvet tree Facts:
Velvet tree has slender stem that can reach up to 50 feet in height.
Velvet tree develops large elliptic or ovate leaves that can reach 3.3 feet in length. They have prominent parallel veins that stretch from the base to the tip of each leaf. Leaves are dark green on the upper surface, and purple on the bottom side. They are oppositely arranged on the stem.
Young stem and leaves of velvet tree are covered with tiny, radiating hairs, hence the name velvet tree.
Velvet tree produces 50 to 200 clusters of flowers (panicles) composed of 1.000 to 3.000 pinkish-white flowers. Flowers contain both types of reproductive organs (perfect flowers). They die 12 to 24 hours after opening.
Velvet tree blooms few times per year. Flowers emit sweet fragrance which attracts insects, main pollinators of this plant.
Fruit of velvet tree are dark berries filled with 120 to 230 seed. One plant produces three million seed per blooming season, 2 to 3 times per year.
Velvet tree propagates via seed.
Seed of velvet tree retains ability to germinate more than 12 years.
Velvet tree starts to produce flowers 4 to 5 years after sowing.
Birds and rodents consume fruit of velvet tree and facilitate dispersal of seed in the wild. People transfer sticky seed of velvet tree to the new areas via their shoes, clothes and vehicles.
Velvet tree rapidly conquers new areas because it produces large quantities of seed and lacks natural enemies, such as various species of fungi and insects (weevils, leaf beetles and their larvae) in non-native habitats.
1/4 to 1/2 of all endemic plants (plants that cannot be found anywhere else) on Tahiti and Society Islands are at risk of extinction due to accelerated spreading of velvet tree on these islands.
Velvet tree is known as "green cancer" on Tahiti and as "Purple Plague" in Hawaii due to devastating effects of velvet tree on biodiversity of Polynesia (velvet tree spreads quickly and destroys native flora of these islands).
Velvet tree has shallow root system which reduces stability of the soil and triggers erosion.
Velvet tree is perennial plant (life span: more than 2 years).


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