Hymenaea courbaril L.

  • 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 courbaril L.

  • Description

    Species Description - Large tree 25 m tall; bark smooth, light brown to gray. Leaflets 2, 4-12 cm long, asymmetric, one margin ovate, the other elliptic, coriaceous, glabrous, the apex acute to acuminate, the base obtuse to rounded, asymmetric, the margins entire; petiole cylindrical, thickened, 0.7-1.5 cm long; stipules 2-2.5 cm long, covering the young leaf, early deciduous. Flowers in short axillary or terminal panicles, opening in the evening and dropping in the morning; pedicels 2-5 mm long; bracts minute. Calyx nearly bell-shaped, 1-2 cm long, the sepals 5, oblong, 1.2-1.8 cm long, velvety pubescent without, early deciduous, leaving a wide receptacle; petals white, 1.3-2 cm long, ovate; stamens exserted; ovary glabrous, oblong, the stigma capitate. Legume 5-15 x 3-6 cm, glabrous, oblong-ellipsoid, dark reddish brown, slightly flattened. Seeds 2-6, 1.5 -2.2 cm long, oblong -ellipsoid, dark brown, smooth, woody, surrounded by an edible, starchy, dry, odorous pulp.

  • Discussion

    Common names: locust tree, stinking toe.

  • Distribution

    Common tree of humid areas. Annaberg (A2868), Reef Bay Trail (P29270). Also on St. Croix, St. Thomas, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda; throughout tropical America.

    Virgin Gorda Virgin Islands South America| Tortola Virgin Islands South America| Saint Thomas Virgin Islands of the United States South America| Saint Croix Virgin Islands of the United States South America|