Divi-divi
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Divi-divi | ||||||||||||||||
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Divi-divi on Aruba
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
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Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
Caesalpinia coriaria (Jacq.) Willd. |
The Divi-divi (Caesalpinia coriaria) is a leguminous tree or large shrub native to Aruba, the Antilles, southern Mexico, Central America and northern South America. It grows to 9 m tall, often much less and very contorted in exposed coastal sites. 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 5 cm long.
The Divi-divi is one of the more well known species of Caesalpinia; it is a symbol of Curaçao and is very popular in Aruba where it is called "watapana". On the islands this tree is never straight because of the trade winds.