Plant Story

This tree is called pejibaye because of the aroma of its inner bark, which is reminiscent of the fruit of the pejibaye palm (Bactris gasipaes). The tree reaches up to 35 meters  and grows a grayish bark with a sandy inner layer. Its leaves boast a pair of glands at the base, which facilitates the species’ identification. Its white flowers are likely pollinated insects, and its drupe fruits are consumed by arboreal animals and birds. The species grows in humid primary forests, especially those in mountainous areas, and has been recorded from southern Nicaragua to Panama; in Costa Rica, it grows along the Atlantic slope and in the South Pacific.