Fabaceae FAMILY

Dipteryx oleifera

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Dipteryx oleifera is an evergreen tree with a rounded or elongated crown; it can reach a height of 15 - 50 metres. The bole of this species attains a diameter of 100 - 160cm, and has ample basal roots without buttresses[ 337 Title Tropical Tree Seed Manual Publication Author Vosso. J. Editor. Website http://www.rngr.net/Publications/ttsm Publisher USDA Forest Service. Year 2002 ISBN Description An extremely good guide, it can also be downloaded in its entirety from the address shown above. , 381 Title Timber Trees of Meso America. Publication Author Website http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/timber/workshops/reports/MA2005/Annex%202.pdf Publisher UNEP Year 2005 ISBN Description A PDF document, published on the internet. Detailed reports on about 30 species of timber trees from Central America. , 382 Title Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 52 Publication Author Publisher Missouro Botanical Garden Year 1965 ISBN Description An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains parts of the Flora of Panama. ]. The tree is harvested in the wild by local people for its edible seeds, and for the seedpods that can be used as torches. The wood is too hard for native tools, but is exploited commercially. The tree is reported to have great potential for use as an ornamental[ 381 Title Timber Trees of Meso America. Publication Author Website http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/timber/workshops/reports/MA2005/Annex%202.pdf Publisher UNEP Year 2005 ISBN Description A PDF document, published on the internet. Detailed reports on about 30 species of timber trees from Central America. ]. When in flower the tree is one of the most attractive in the forest, its crown of terminal panicles dense with pink-purple blossoms readily visible at considerable distances from the rivers. The flowers persist for weeks[ 382 Title Annals of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Vol. 52 Publication Author Publisher Missouro Botanical Garden Year 1965 ISBN Description An excellent botanical publication, available for download from the Internet. Amongst other things, this issue contains parts of the Flora of Panama. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeNorthern S. America - Colombia, north through Central America to Honduras.

HabitatA canopy or emergent tree in forests on very humid plateaux, in alluvial or sandy soils, and sometimes in acid and clay soils; at elevations from 20 - 1,300 metres[ 381 Title Timber Trees of Meso America. Publication Author Website http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/timber/workshops/reports/MA2005/Annex%202.pdf Publisher UNEP Year 2005 ISBN Description A PDF document, published on the internet. Detailed reports on about 30 species of timber trees from Central America. ]. It favours well-drained hillsides[ 551 Title A Century of Trees of Panama. Publication Author Pittier H. Mell C.D. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].