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Caesalpinia coriaria

Caesalpinia coriaria
Dividivi on aruba.jpg
Divi-divi on Aruba
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Caesalpinia
Species: C. coriaria
Binomial name
Caesalpinia coriaria
(Jacq.) Willd.
Synonyms

Poinciana coriaria Jacq.


Poinciana coriaria Jacq.

Caesalpinia coriaria is a leguminous tree or large shrub native to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Common names include Divi-divi, Cascalote, Guaracabuya, Guatapana, Nacascol, and Watapana (Aruba).

C. coriaria rarely reaches its maximum height of 9 m (30 ft) because its growth is contorted by the trade winds that batter the exposed coastal sites where it often grows. In other environments it grows into a low dome shape with a clear sub canopy space. Leaves are bipinnate, with 5-10 pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 15-25 pairs of leaflets; the individual leaflets are 7 mm long and 2 mm broad. The fruit is a twisted pod 5 cm (2.0 in) long.

The Divi-divi is one of the more well known species of Caesalpinia; it is the national tree of Curaçao. It is also very common and popular on Aruba.

Tannins are extracted from Divi-divi pods for use in leather production.

Among the molecules isolated is corilagin, whose name comes from the specific epithet of the plant.


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Wikipedia

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