Plant Story

This tree reaches 35 meters and is among the most common species of its family. It is recognized by its branchletts and leaves with reddish-brown pubescence. Its flowers are yellow and its fruits are eaten by macaws and other parrots. Its seeds are winged, allowing their dispersal by wind. Its wood is used in construction. This species grows in altered areas including secondary forrests, forest clearings and forest edges, due to its requirement for a high amount of light. In Costa Rica it is found in humid forests on both the Atlantic and Pacific slopes between 0 and 1000 meters above sea level. Outside the country, it has been reported from Honduras to Bolivia, Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil.