Devil's Hand Tree

Common Names:            English: Devil's Hand Tree , Monkey´s Hand Tree, Hand Flower Tree. Spanish : árbol de la manita, árbol de las manitas, camxóchitl, canac, canaco, canague, huiahuonahua, lechillo, li-ma-ne-shmu, macpalxochicuáhuitl, macpalxóchitl, majagua, mano de dragón, mano de león, mano de mico, mapasúchil, mora, palo de mecate, palo liso, tayuyo, teyacua, teyeque .
Scientific Name: Chiranthodendron pentadactylon Larreat. It has recently been recognised as a member of the Malvaceae family but was previously being considered to be in the Sterculiaceae family. Synonyms: Cheirostemon platanoides Bonpl., Chiranthodendron platanoides (Bonpl.) Baill.

Introduction
A large tree, up to 30 m tall and 200 cm in diameter with striking bright red flowers and large leaves. The tree is a typical species of Mexican cloud forests and is threatened in the wild, although it is popular in cultivation outside of its native range due to its attractive flowers and dense crown.

Why is this species important?

This species is charismatic and easily recognisable due to its distinctive bright red and yellow 'five-fingered' flowers and its five-pointed very large leaves with contrasting colours in their upper (darl green) and lower (pale brown) faces. A drawing of the flowering branch of this species has been the iconic symbol of the Botanical Mexican Botanical of Mexico Society since the early 1940s. One of its common names, Macpalxóchitl, has been adopted as the title of the Society´s newsletter.

Where is it found?

This species is found in both Mexico and Guatemala, typically in cloud forest, oak forest and pine-oak forest at elevations of between 1,830 and 2,740 m (up to 3,000 m in Guatemala). In Mexico the tree is found in Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas. Although specimens have been reported from a number of other states in central Mexico, they are most probably from cultivated trees.

How do people use it?

The red flowers are used medicinally as a traditional remedy for some heart diseases. The bark is used as rope and the large leaves are used to wrap food. The tree also had religious significance to the pre-Columbian Aztec people. The species is also popular in cultivation as an ornamental tree.

Why is it threatened?

Like the cloud forests where it grows, this species is threatened by extremely high deforestation rates.

What conservation action is needed?

Restoring populations with planted seedlings and saplings seems possible. Seeds must be collected from slightly open fruits on the distal parts of the branches of the tree. The seeds may remain viable for up to seven months at 4°C and less than 12% relative humidity. Seedlings can be obtained from seeds placed on damp soil beds with a thin litter cover.

Selected References

González-Espinosa, M.,Meave, J. A, Lorea-Hernández, F. G., Ibarra-Manríquez, G. and Newton, A. (2011) The Red List of Mexican Cloud Forest Trees. Global Trees Campaign/Fauna & Flora International, Cambridge UK.

Osuna-Fernández R., Laguna-Hernández G., Brechú-Franco A. and Orozco-Segovia A. (1997) Germinación de Chiranthodendron pentadactylon Larr. (Sterculiaceae) en respuesta a la escarificación, temperatura y luz. Boletín de la Sociedad Botánica de México, 60, 5–14.

Parker T. 2008. Trees of Guatemala. The Tree Press, Austin.

Toledo V.M. (1975) Chiranthodendron pentadactylon
Larreategui (Sterculiaceae): una especie polinizada por aves percheras. Boletín de la Sociedad Botánica de México, 35, 59–67.

Acknowledgements

This tree profile is based on information for this species written for the Red List of Mexican Cloud Forest Trees, published by GTC in 2011.

Photos: G. Ibarra-Manríquez and N. Ramírez-Marcial

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CONSERVATION STATUS:
Vulnerable