Bocoa

Bocoa is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae (Leguminosae). It belongs to the sub family Faboideae (Papilionoideae). The genus is currently described as having four species;

1. Bocoa prouacensis
2. Bocoa viridiflora
3. Bocoa ratteri
4. Bocoa marionii

The genus is largely limited to the Guiana Shield and Brazil. Bocoa proucensis is the type species for this genus. It's name is derived from Boco d'Aprouak where Aprouac refers to the Approuague river in Guyane (French Guiana). It is predominantly found in Guyane but is also substantially present in Suriname. Timber from this species is one of the hardest and densest in the world. B. viridiflora is the largest tree in the genus, reaching 30 m. in height, and is the most widely distributed. Specimens sources for B. ratteri are limited Maranhão, Brazil. The newest member of Bocoa to be described is B. marionii. It was found in the Upper Essequibo region of Guyana and is most morphologically similar to B. prouacensis.

H. E. Ireland, Taxonomic Changes in the South American Genus Bocoa (Leguminosae-Swartzieae):Reinstatement of the Name Trischidium, and a Synopsis of Both Genera,Kew Bulletin, Vol. 62, No. 2 (2007), pp. 333-349.

G.A. Aymard and H.E. Ireland, A new species of Bocoa (Leguminosae-Swartzieae) from the Upper Essequibo region, Guyana, Blumea, Vol. 55, No. 1 (2010) pp. 18–20.

C. Freyburger, F. Longuetaud, F. Mothe, T. Constant and J.-M. Leban, Measuring wood density by means of X-ray computer tomography, Ann. For. Sci. Vol. 66, No. 8 (2009) 804.