Hymenaea

  • Authority

    Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.

  • Family

    Caesalpiniaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hymenaea

  • Description

    Genus Description - Large, resinous trees. Leaves compound of 2 opposite leaflets; stipules early deciduous. Flowers bisexual, large, in terminal axillary panicles; pedicels short, jointed at apex; calyx bell-shaped, with 4 or 5 imbricate sepals; corolla white, of 5 free, clawed or sessile, equal petals; stamens 10, the filaments free, of equal length, the anthers opening along longitudinal slits; ovary shortly stipitate, flattened, with few ovules, the style filiform, eccentric. Legume elongate, hard-shelled, woody, slightly flattened, indehiscent; seeds 1 to several, ellipsoid-flattened, hard, covered with a starchy pulp.

    Distribution and Ecology - A genus of 14 species, most of which (13) are from tropical South America.