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Useful Tropical Plants

Caesalpinia bahamensis

Lam.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Caesalpinia reticulata Britton

Caesalpinia rugeliana Urb.

Common Name:

Caesalpinia bahamensis
Drawing of the leaves, flowers, fruit and seed
Photograph by: Descourtilz, M.E., Flore médicale des Antilles, vol. 7: t. 503 (1829) [J.T. Descourtilz]
Creative Commons License

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 *  *
HabitShrub
Height2.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Caesalpinia+bahamensis>

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