Common Name: Divi-Divi

General Information

Libidibia coriaria is a shrub or a small tree with a rounded, spreading crown; it usually grows up to 10 metres tall, but can be much taller[]. The bole is short and seldom straight; it can be up to 35cm in diameter[]. The tree is especially prone to wind-training in exposed areas, giving rise to increasingly picturesque specimens with flat-topped crowns and leaning trunks[].
Divi-divi has been used in Central America for many centuries as a tanning material and its cultivation spread to several other countries, particularly India, before it fell out of favour in the 1950's[]. It is grown as an ornamental in many parts of the tropics and is sometimes still cultivated for its tannins[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Colombia, Venezuela; C. America - Panama to southern Mexico; Caribbean.

Habitat

Semi-arid, open country[]. Seasonal and coastal forests[]. Dry plains and hillsides at elevations of 900 metres or less[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Divi-divi tolerates a wide range of climates, thriving in dry, warm temperate climates to wet tropical climates[]. It can tolerate an annual precipitation ranging from as low as 600mm up to over 4,000mm, and a mean annual temperature in the range of 15 - 28°c[]. Trees are reported to yield less under very moist tropical conditions than under drier conditions[]. At higher altitudes they do not yield well either[].
Succeeds in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil[]. It grows on rich clay soils and poor sandy soils[]. Succeeds with a pH in the range 4.5 - 8.7[]. It requires a position in full sun[].
The trees are relatively slow growing and generally commence flowering 5 - 7 years after sowing. Full crops of pods are produced after about 20 years[].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[].
Mature trees require very little care, and other crops can be planted between the trees[].
The pods of divi-divi are collected before or after they drop from the tree. Trees yield about 45 - 135 kg pods per year[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The astringent pods are used as an antiperiodics[]. A decoction of the pods is used in the treatment of haemorrhoids, and in an infusion for dressing sores[].

The bark or pods are employed dressing wounds[].

The roots are febrifuge[]. They are used in the treatment of abscesses and chronic wounds[].

The seeds contain 5 - 9% of a fixed oil, about half of which consists of cyclopropenoid fatty acids, which have carcinogenic properties[].

Other Uses

The pods contain up to 50% tannin, mostly comprising ellagitannin, and are used in the tanning industry. They are also used to prepare a blackish or bluish dye for cotton and wool and a black ink, which is used, for example, in the decoration of traditional potteries and gourds in Central America[, ].
The pods are utilized to colour the celebrated 'huacales' or 'jicaras' which are manufactured from the fruit shells of the calabash tree (Crescentia cujete). First a syrup is prepared from crude sugar, fermented maize, and old nails. After a few days the syrup becomes heavily charged with iron and is called the tinta. The day that the colouring is to be done there is prepared also a decoction in water of the crushed pods of this species. The huacales, (the dry Crescentia fruits), are first roughened to remove the outer pellicle. Then they are polished and smoothed with the rough leaves of guarumo (Cecropia). Thus prepared, the huacales are dipped into the jar of tinta, placed in the sun to dry, and then
dipped in the nacascolote decoction. This process is repeated for each huacal many times during the day, and after each treatment each huacal is smoothed and rubbed with the hands to give it its peculiar lustre. Sometimes before the huacales are dipped, they are covered with designs in wax (usually beeswax), these portions of the shell being left in natural colour after the dyeing process, but more commonly the often intricate designs are cut out with a sharp penknife on the huacal after colouring[].
The pods are sometimes employed as a mordant for dyeing vegetable fibres with other dyes[].
The tannins can easily be extracted. They are mainly present in the white powdery tissue just below the epidermis of the pod, and this tissue is easily collected when the dry pods are ruptured[].. The powder has the drawback of being slightly hygroscopic and subject to rapid deterioration, so should be packed in sealed containers[].

The wood has been reported as having been used as the source of a red dye[, ].

The leaves are used as a mulch[].

When tested in ponds, the tannin from divi-divi pods showed algicidal activity. Aucubin compounds have been identified. Oven-dried fruits applied at 2.5 g/l were 100% effective in controlling the fresh-water snails Lymnaea luteola and Gyraulus convexiusculus within 24 - 72 hours[].

The heartwood is reddish brown to almost black; it is clearly demarcated from the thin band of light orange-yellow sapwood. The wood is very close-grained, heavy, very hard, tough, strong and durable. It polishes very well, but is difficult to work[, , ]. Samples of the wood that are almost black are sometimes used as a substitute for ebony in fashioning small articles[].
In general, the wood is little utilized, other than as a fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak in warm water for 12 - 24 hours prior to sowing[]. Seedlings are kept in the nursery for 9 - 15 months, and then transplanted into the field, usually at the beginning of the rainy season[]. Watering might be necessary in the dry season for the first two years[].

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