The decreasing radial wood stiffness pattern of some tropical trees growing in the primary forest is reversed and increases when they are grown in a plantation

Table 1 Sample material used in the study

Location	Type	Species	Quantity	Age (years)	Height (m)	Dominance class	Stand average height (m)	Trees/ha
L’Egypienne	Plantation	Eperua grandiflora	1	26	22	n/a ≥ 5 m spacing	25	∼400^a
Kourou	Natural forest	Eperua falcata	2	Unknown	30	Dominant	38	Unknown^b
Paracou	Plantation	Carapa procera	1	26	25	n/a ≥ 5 m spacing	25	∼400^a
Paracou	Natural forest	Symphonia globulifera	1	Unknown	33	Dominant	38	Unknown^b

a. The exact figure is unknown but stocking density was sparse; this figure is deemed representational by the French forest service (Office National de Forêts)
b. The quantity of trees in one hectare of primary Amazon forest in this region is normally in excess of 3,000, with some 600 of those having a diameter of > 10 cm

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