Plant Story

This tree reaches up to 45 meters and is characterized by the shiny leaves that grow in groups of 3-4 from the same point. It grows aromatic, yellow flowers and small, capsule-type fruits that are slightly woody. Its seeds are winged, allowing their dispersal by the wind. It has been used as a living fence, and has historically been grown in plantations as its wood is used in construction and by the packaging industry, though it has now been rejected due to defects after drying. This species grows in altered areas including secnodary forests, forest clearings and forest edges due to its reqirement for high amounts of light.  In Costa Rica, it grows between 0 and 1050 meters above sea level on both the Atlantic and Pacific slopes. Outside the country, it has been recorded from southern Mexico to Ecuador.