Libidibia coriaria


Libidibia coriaria is a leguminous tree or large shrub native to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Common names include Divi-divi, Cascalote, Guaracabuya, Guatapana, Nacascol, and Watapana.

Description

L. coriaria rarely reaches its maximum height of because its growth is contorted by the trade winds that batter the exposed coastal sites where it often grows. In other environments it grows into a low dome shape with a clear sub canopy space. Leaves are bipinnate, with 5–10 pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 15–25 pairs of leaflets; the individual leaflets are 7 mm long and 2 mm broad. The fruit is a twisted pod long.
The Divi-divi is one of the more well known species of Libidibia; it is the national tree of Curaçao. It is also very common and popular on Aruba.

Chemistry

s are extracted from Divi-divi pods for use in leather production.
Among the molecules isolated is corilagin, whose name comes from the specific epithet of the plant.