Dialium guianense

Dialium guianense is a species of tree in the flowering plant family Fabaceae.^[1] The species occurs through North America (South Eastern Mexico), Central America and South America, and was an important source of food and wood for the ancient Mayans.^[2]

Dialium guianense
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Dialium
Species:	D. guianense
Binomial name
Dialium guianense (Aubl.) Sandwith
Synonyms
Arouna divaricatum Willd. Arouna guianensis Aubl. Dialium divaricatum (Willd.) Vahl

Common names

In English the common name for this species is ironwood, a name shared with many other plants.^[1] In Mexico the common name is Guapaque.^[3] In Colombia the common name is Granadillo or Tamarindo de montaña (literally "Mountain tamarind").^[4]

Description

Dialium guianense is a broad or compound leafed tree growing up to 31–35 m (102–115 ft) tall.^[1][5] It bears a single seeded (rarely, two seeded) edible fruit; the taste is said to be similar to tamarind.^[6][5]

Distribution and habitat

It is from South America to Central America.^[7]

It is native to Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela as well as the territory of French Guiana. The species was also introduced to Cuba and Puerto Rico.^[8]

In Suriname the species regularly occurs in humid forests.^[9] In Belize the species is abundant in swampy forests but it can also be found in dry areas.^[10]

Uses

The wood from the trees were valued for the construction of railroads, fence posts, and house frames. In Tabasco and Chiapas it's fruit is used for preparing beverages and also some kind of sweet paste with sugar^[11] It has also been used for flooring and bridges.^[12] In Mexico the tree valued as a source for food.^[13]

References

1. "Ironwood - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
2. Chazdon, Robin L. (2014-05-23). Second Growth: The Promise of Tropical Forest Regeneration in an Age of Deforestation. University of Chicago Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-226-11810-9.
3. Paoletti, M. G. (2005-01-07). Ecological Implications of Minilivestock: Potential of Insects, Rodents, Frogs and Sails. CRC Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-4822-9443-9.
4. Quattrocchi, Umberto (1999-11-23). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. Taylor & Francis US. pp. 761–762. ISBN 978-0-8493-2676-9.
5. Cook, Suzanne (2016-03-15). The Forest of the Lacandon Maya: An Ethnobotanical Guide. Springer. p. 267. ISBN 978-1-4614-9111-8.
6. Roth, Ingrid (2012-12-06). Stratification of a tropical forest as seen in dispersal types. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 94. ISBN 978-94-009-4826-6.
7. Mansfeld, Rudolf (2001-04-10). Mansfeld's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: (Except Ornamentals). Springer Science & Business Media. p. 554. ISBN 978-3-540-41017-1.
8. "Dialium guianense (Aubl.) Sandwith | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-09-24.
9. Roth, Ingrid (2012-12-06). Stratification of a tropical forest as seen in dispersal types. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 156. ISBN 978-94-009-4826-6.
10. Bridgewater, Samuel (2012-01-20). A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest. University of Texas Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-292-73901-7.
11. Balick, Michael J.; Arvigo, Rosita (2015-04-30). Messages from the Gods: A Guide to the Useful Plants of Belize. Oxford University Press. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-19-935913-4.
12. Grandtner, M. M.; Chevrette, Julien (2013-09-21). Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-12-396954-5.
13. Plotkin, Mark; Famolare, Lisa (July 1992). Sustainable Harvest and Marketing of Rain Forest Products. Island Press. pp. 133–134. ISBN 978-1-55963-169-3.