Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam.

Title

Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam.

Author(s)

Ethan H. Freid

Scientific Name

Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam.

Description

Common Names

There are no known common names for this species

Family

Fabaceae

Habit

Caesalpinia bahamensis grows as a large shrub to small tree up to 5 m in height. The trunk and stems are brownish-grey and are covered with prickles. The leaves are arranged alternately, are pinnately compound, to 30 cm in length with the pinnae in 2-4 pairs each with 3-6 leaflets. The leaflets are obovate with a rounded apex and entire margin.

The flowers are arranged in racemes that exceed the length of the leaves. The flowers are zygomorphic. There are 5 greenish-yellow sepals in the calyx and 5 greenish-yellow petals in the corolla that are fused at the base. There are 9-10 stamens that exceed the perianth. The fruit is a legume, 5-8 cm in length, turning brown at maturity.

Habitat

Caesalpinia bahamensis grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formations –Forest/Shrubalnds (coppice) as well as an understory shrub in Pine Woodlands.

Distribution in Bahamas/Globally

Caesalpinia bahamensis grows throughout all islands in the Bahamian Archipelago, more commonly in the northern islands, as well as in Cuba.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage

Caesalpinia bahamensis has no known medicinal uses in the Bahamas. It is closely related to C. vesicaria that has a long cultural and economic history in the Bahamas.