Family: Fabaceae, Sub-family: Mimosoideae
Pentaclethra macroloba is the most abundant tree species within the boundary of the La Selva Biological Station, in the lowlands of Costa Rica. In humid tropical forests it is one of the dominant canopy trees reaching 30-35 m, often found growing near rivers and in swampy areas
-Compound, biparipinnate, to 30 cm long, with numerous small leaflets. Feathery looking.
Flowers hermaphrodite, small, crowded in 15-20 cm long, dense racemes. There are almost 200 flowers per raceme but only 1-5 flowers develop into fruits. Flowers are pom-pom esque- small petals and numerous prominent stamens.
Fruit dehiscent pod, 20-50 cm long by 4-6 cm wide, dark brown, 3-8 seeds per pod. Seed asymmetric, lack endosperm and differ from a typical mimosoid seed; seed coat brown with longitudinal stone cells forming fine lines on the surface
Biophysical Constraints:
Altitude: 0-600 masl (meters above sea level)
Mean annual temperature: 20-35ºC Mean annual rainfall: more than 2500 mm
Soil type: Light to heavy acidic soils
Species Distribution:
Native: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Exotic: Congo
Common Names:
Creole (koeroebaharo,trysil,koloballi,koorooballi); English (oil bean tree); Portuguese (pracaxy,paroacaxi,paranacachy,parachy); Spanish (gavilán,carbonero,palo de aceite,quebracho,sangredo,mulato); Trade name (fine leaf)
Products/Uses:
Food: Oily seeds are edible and can produce a cooking oil (owala oil), and can be used in soap
Timber: It can be used in heavy construction, railway sleepers, furniture, house frames, scaffolding and floor beams
Poison: Both seeds and bark contain a toxin, and long contact with sawdust and bark may cause allergy
Medicine: Seeds and bark oil help against snakebites, ulcers and insect bites. Also, bark used as a remedy for dysentery
Common Trees of Costa Rica Montane Rainforest 