Copey
Clusia rosea
Native Region
Caribbean and Central America
Max Height
10-20 meters (33-65 feet)
Family
Clusiaceae
Conservation
LC
Uses
Distribution in Costa Rica
Legend
Elevation
0-2000m
Regions
- Limón
- Puntarenas
- Guanacaste
- Alajuela
- Heredia
- San José
- Cartago
Season
Flowering
Apr-Aug
Fruiting
Jul-Nov
Copey (Autograph Tree)
The Copey or Autograph Tree (Clusia rosea) earns its English name from an unusual property: you can scratch messages into its thick, waxy leaves that remain visible as the leaf grows. But this versatile tree is far more than a natural curiosity—it's an ecological powerhouse that can begin life as an epiphyte, survive on beaches and in cloud forests, and provide crucial resources for wildlife.
Quick Reference
- Scientific Name
- Clusia rosea
- Family
- Clusiaceae
- Max Height
- 10-20 m (33-65 ft)
- Trunk Diameter
- Up to 60 cm
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Notable Feature
- Inscribable leaves
iNaturalist Observations
Community-powered species data
15000
Observations
186
Observers
📸 Photo Gallery
Photos sourced from iNaturalist community science database. View all observations →↗
Taxonomy and Classification
- Clusia: Honors Carolus Clusius (Charles de l'Écluse), Flemish botanist - rosea: Latin for "rose-colored," referring to the flowers - Copey: Costa Rican name of indigenous origin - Autograph Tree: From the inscribable leaves
Common Names
| Language/Region | Common Name(s) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Autograph Tree, Pitch Apple | Inscribable leaves / fruit appearance |
| Spanish (Costa Rica) | Copey | Indigenous origin |
| Spanish (Caribbean) | Cupey, Copey | Regional variation |
| Portuguese | Clúsia | From scientific name |
| French | Arbre autographe | Autograph tree |
Physical Description
Overall Form
Copey is a highly adaptable tree that can grow as an independent tree, a strangler (hemi-epiphyte), or even on rocks. It has a dense, rounded crown with distinctive thick, leathery leaves. The branches often produce aerial roots, and the trunk can become massive and irregular when the tree starts as an epiphyte and eventually strangles its host.
Distinctive Features
Leaves
- Type: Simple, opposite
- Size: 10-20 cm long
- Shape: Obovate (wider toward tip)
- Texture: Very thick, leathery, waxy
- Color: Dark glossy green
- Feature: Can be inscribed ("autographed")
Bark
- Color: Gray to brown
- Texture: Smooth to slightly rough
- Latex: Produces yellow-green sticky sap
- Aerial roots: Common from branches
Flowers
- Size: 6-8 cm diameter
- Color: White with pink tinge
- Petals: 6-8, thick and waxy
- Sexes: Dioecious (separate male/female trees)
- Fragrance: Light, pleasant
- Resin: Flowers produce sticky resin
Fruits
- Type: Capsule
- Size: 5-8 cm diameter
- Color: Green turning brown/black
- Segments: Opens like a star (6-9 segments)
- Seeds: Covered in red-orange aril
- Wildlife: Important food source
The Autograph Feature
Nature's Notepad
The thick, waxy cuticle of Copey leaves allows them to be "inscribed" with a fingernail or pointed object. The scratched area turns brown and remains visible as the leaf grows, persisting for months or even years. This led to its common name "Autograph Tree" and has been used for everything from love messages to botanical labels.
How It Works
- Thick waxy cuticle on leaf surface
- Scratching damages outer cell layers
- Damaged cells die and turn brown
- Marks expand slightly as leaf grows
- Messages persist until leaf falls
- Works best on younger leaves
Historical Uses
- Sailors' messages in Caribbean
- Love letters between couples
- Botanical specimen labels
- Natural curiosity and games
- Educational demonstrations
- Tourist attraction feature
Hemi-Epiphytic Lifestyle
Starting Life in the Canopy
Copey exemplifies ecological flexibility. It can grow as a normal tree from the ground, OR start life as an epiphyte when birds deposit seeds in tree branches. In the epiphytic form, it sends roots down to the ground and can eventually strangle and replace its host tree—similar to strangler figs.
Epiphytic Start
- Bird deposits seed in tree branch
- Seedling establishes on host
- Roots grow down toward ground
- Plant becomes more independent
- May eventually strangle host
- Stands alone when host dies
Why This Strategy?
- Access to light above forest floor
- Escape ground-level competition
- Birds disperse seeds widely
- Can colonize diverse habitats
- Resilient to disturbance
- Opportunistic establishment
Distribution in Costa Rica
Copey is remarkably versatile in Costa Rica, found from beach dunes to cloud forests. It's common in both Caribbean and Pacific lowlands, abundant in middle elevations, and reaches into premontane forests. You'll see it as an ornamental tree in gardens, wild in forests, and naturalized along roadsides.
Regional Distribution
| Location | Province | Habitat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caribbean beaches | Limón | Coastal strand | Wind/salt tolerant |
| Monteverde area | Puntarenas | Cloud forest edges | Epiphytic forms common |
| Central Valley | San José | Gardens, forests | Often planted |
| Nicoya Peninsula | Guanacaste | Dry forest margins | Drought tolerant |
| Osa Peninsula | Puntarenas | Rainforest | Wild populations |
Ecological Role
Wildlife Value
Animals Attracted
- Birds: Eat fruit arils, disperse seeds
- Bats: Feed on fruits at night
- Bees: Visit male flowers for resin
- Monkeys: Eat fruits
- Insects: Many species associated
- Epiphytes: Host orchids, bromeliads
Ecosystem Services
- Coastal erosion control
- Windbreak protection
- Food source for wildlife
- Nesting sites in branches
- Microhabitat for epiphytes
- Carbon storage
Resin-Collecting Bees
Copey flowers are unusual in offering resin rather than nectar as a reward. Stingless bees (Meliponini) and other specialized bees collect this resin to build their nests. This creates a unique pollination relationship where bees visit for construction materials rather than food.
Coastal Adaptations
Beach Survivor
Salt Tolerance
- Thick waxy leaf coating
- Efficient water storage
- Salt-excluding roots
- Wind-resistant form
- Sandy soil tolerance
- Full sun capability
Uses in Coastal Areas
- Beach windbreaks
- Erosion control
- Ornamental hedge
- Coastal restoration
- Hurricane resilience
- Dune stabilization
Growing Information
Cultivation Requirements
| Factor | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical to subtropical | Very adaptable |
| Temperature | 18-35°C (64-95°F) | Frost sensitive |
| Rainfall | 1000-4000mm annually | Drought tolerant when established |
| Soil | Any well-drained | Sandy, rocky, or rich |
| Light | Full sun to part shade | Most flowering in sun |
| Propagation | Seeds, cuttings, air layers | Cuttings root easily |
Ornamental Use
Copey makes an excellent ornamental tree due to its attractive form, glossy leaves, beautiful flowers, and tolerance of challenging conditions. It's particularly valuable for coastal landscapes where few other ornamentals survive. The "autograph" feature makes it a conversation piece in gardens.
Interesting Facts
Similar Species
| Species | Difference | Habitat |
|---|---|---|
| Clusia minor | Smaller overall | Similar habitats |
| Clusia multiflora | Different flower clusters | Montane forests |
| Ficus species (Stranglers) | Different leaves, latex | Various forests |
| Garcinia species | Different fruit type | Humid forests |
References and Resources
| Resource | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| iNaturalist | Observations | https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/62142-Clusia-rosea |
| GBIF | Distribution Data | https://www.gbif.org/species/3188950 |
| Tropical Plants Database | Information | https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Clusia+rosea |
