Brazilian Ironwood

Caesalpinia ferrea Mart.

sez-al-PIN-ee-uh   FAIR-ee-ah

Caesalpiniaceae (Legumes)

Key to Caesalpinia L. 

Synonym: Caesalpinia leiostachya (Benth.) Ducke   (GRIN)

Explanation of name: Named for Andreas Cesalpini (1519-1603) who was an Italian botanist, philosopher, and physician to Pope Clement VIII. (DEH)  Ferrea means of iron and refers to a rusty color. (STE)

Natural range: E. Brazil (BA2)

Recognition: Tree. Leaves bipinnate with 3-4 pairs of pinnae and 4-8 pairs of oblong to obovate leaflets, to 1" long. Flowers yellow, 4-merous with the petals the same size as the calyx.  Fruit a thick elliptic-oblong straight legume, 3" long ( BA2)

Landscape uses: specimen tree (PBCC)