Toromiro
Toromiro – Sophora toromiro
Small tree, it is estimated that it could reach up to 3 meters high approximately. Leaves alternate, compound, imparipinnate, 4.5-10 cm long and with 8 to 20 pairs of leaflets. Flowers composed of 5 yellow petals 2 cm long. Its fruit is a pod containing 1 to 6 ellipsoidal seeds 4 to 5 mm long by 3.5 to 4 mm wide.
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CONAF Rapa Nui offers the most complete and varied source of information about this species, explore the site dedicated to the toromiro.
Importance
Toromiro wood was widely used in ancient Rapa Nui wood art, especially for carving ceremonial or ritual objects such as moai kavakava, reimiro, tahonga, ua, rapa.
Propagation
It reproduces by seeds, but also by means of laboratory techniques within the framework of the U. de Concepción research project.
Ecology
The scarce information derives partly from accounts of 19th and 20th century explorers and partly from palynological studies. Based on the above, it was common on the rocky (interior) slopes of the Rano Kau, associated with Triumfetta semitriloba, Broussonetia papyrifera, Microlepia strigosa, Microsorum parksii, Caesalpinia major. Triumfetta semitriloba, Broussonetia papyrifera, Microlepia strigosa, Microsorum parksii, Caesalpinia major.
Conservation
Está declarado «Extinto en estado silvestre». Las semillas del último individuo fueron rescatadas y germinadas a mediados de la década de 1950, y hoy se cultiva en algunos jardines botánicos del mundo. Gracias a un proyecto de investigadores de la U. de Concepción y la empresa CMPC, también existen varios ejemplares en el vivero Mataveri Otai de CONAF, que son parte de un estudio sobre el papel de los rizobios en la propagación y desarrollo del toromiro. Los toromiro del Jardín Demostrativo MANAVAI pertenecen a ese proyecto y está debidamente acreditados como Sophora toromiro.
Distribution
Endemic to Rapa Nui. There are several endemic species of the genus Sophora in French Polynesia (S. mangarevaensis to Mangareva, S. raivavaeensis to Raivavae and Rurutu; and S. rapaensis to Rapa) and in the Juan Fernandez Islands (S. fernandeziana and S. masafuerana).
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