Caesalpinia bahamensis
Lam.
Fabaceae
Caesalpinia reticulata Britton
Caesalpinia rugeliana Urb.
Common Name:
General Information
Caesalpinia bahamensis is a prickly shrub growing 1.5 - 2.5 metres tall, occasionally becoming a tree up to 4 metres tall[
468- Title
- The Bahama Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F., New York.
- Year
- 1920
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical description, often accompanied by the plants habitat, of the Flora of the Bahamas.
].
The wood was a common article of commerce in the 18th century, being exported to Europe as a source of dyestuff until eventually the resources for commercial supply ran out. The wood is still used locally as a dyestuff and the plant is commonly used as a diuretic.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
468- Title
- The Bahama Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F., New York.
- Year
- 1920
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical description, often accompanied by the plants habitat, of the Flora of the Bahamas.
Range
Caribbean - Bahamas, Cuba, Windward Islands.
Habitat
Coppices and scrublands in the Bahamas[
468- Title
- The Bahama Flora
- Publication
-
- Author
- Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F.
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Britton N.L.; Millspaugh C.F., New York.
- Year
- 1920
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A botanical description, often accompanied by the plants habitat, of the Flora of the Bahamas.
].
Properties
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 2.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is an effective diuretic[
1329- Title
- Validación etnofarmacológica de Nectandra coriacea (Sw.) Griseb. y Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam. reportadas como diuré
- Publication
- Revista Cubana de Plantas Medicinales 16(2):115-134 2011
- Author
- Maykel Pérez MachínFrancisco Morón RodríguezMario L Sueiro O
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2011
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
A red dye is obtained from the wood[
530- Title
- Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- HMSO; London.
- Year
- 1916
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Contains a range of articles on plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The reddish wood is used for inlay work and turnery[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
