Jacaranda copaia

Jacaranda copaia is a flowering pioneer tree belonging to the genus Jacaranda. It is native to Central America, and Northern and Western parts of South America.

Jacaranda copaia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Bignoniaceae
Genus: Jacaranda
Species:
J. copaia
Binomial name
Jacaranda copaia
(Aubl.) D.Don

Description

The tree is evergreen or semi-deciduous and produces blue flowers from August to November. Young trees have a long trunk with no branches. Large leaves grow directly from the top of the trunk giving them an appearance similar to tree ferns, particularly immature Schizolobium parahyba. When mature, J. copaia grows to 30 to 35 metres (98 to 115 ft) and is normally branch free for more than 50% of its height. The top consists of a "vase-shaped crown" of branches and leaves. The trunk is approximately 75 centimetres (30 in) in diameter and has rough, dark gray bark.[1][2]

Distribution

Jacaranda copaia is native to Central America as well as Northern and Western South America. It is common in the Brazilian Amazon where, as a pioneer species, it colonizes gaps in the forest and areas that have been cleared.[2]

Uses

During the dry season, the leafy branches are burned as a way to repel biting insects. The bark has been used as a laxative and to treat dysentery and syphilis. The leaves have been used to treat leishmaniasis, fevers, yaws and ringworm. The Guyana Patamona use the juice of young leaves to treat persistent sores. The native people in Kurupukari, Guyana also use parts of the tree for treating ulcers and sores.[3]

References
  1. "Jacaranda copaia" (PDF). University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  2. MauésI, Márcia Motta (2008). "Pollination biology in Jacaranda copaia (Aubl.) D. Don. (Bignoniaceae) at the "Floresta Nacional do Tapajós", Central Amazon, Brazil". Rev. Bras. Bot. 31 (3): 517–527. doi:10.1590/S0100-84042008000300015.
  3. "Jacaranda copaia, a member of Jacarandas (Genus Jacaranda)". iNaturalist.org. Retrieved 1 August 2016.

Data related to Jacaranda copaia at Wikispecies

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