Cachimbo

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📸 Photo Gallery

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Taxonomy & Classification

Common Names by Region

Etymology

• Couratari: From indigenous South American languages, referring to trees in the Brazil nut family
• guianensis: Latin for "from the Guianas," referencing the tree's Amazonian distribution
• Cachimbo: From indigenous Central American languages, possibly referring to the tree's use or appearance

The Lecythidaceae family includes the famous Brazil nut tree and several other tropical forest giants valued for timber and edible nuts.

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Physical Description

Tree Form

Cachimbo is a true emergent species, towering 45-60 meters above the forest canopy. The tree develops a straight, cylindrical trunk reaching diameters of 1 meter or more, with the first branches often 25-35 meters above ground. Most distinctive are the massive buttress roots extending 7-8 meters up the trunk, creating dramatic flying buttresses that anchor this giant in shallow tropical soils.

The crown is rounded and spreading, emerging above surrounding canopy trees to capture full sunlight. As a deciduous species, Cachimbo sheds most of its leaves before flowering, creating a spectacular display when the bare branches burst into pink blooms.

Bark Characteristics

• Color: Grayish-brown to dark gray
• Texture: Moderately smooth when young, becoming slightly fissured with age
• Features: Vertical striations; may develop shallow furrows on old trees
• Lenticels: Present but not prominent
• Inner Bark: Reddish-brown; fibrous

Leaves

• Type: Simple, alternate, spirally arranged
• Shape: Elliptical to oblong
• Size: 10-20 cm long, 4-8 cm wide
• Texture: Leathery (coriaceous)
• Upper Surface: Shiny dark green when mature
• Lower Surface: Pubescent (fine hairs), paler green
• Margins: Entire (smooth)
• Petiole: 1-2 cm long
• Deciduous: Sheds leaves before flowering season

Flowers

• Color: Pink to pale magenta
• Structure: Bisexual, with numerous stamens
• Arrangement: Clustered along branches
• Size: 2-3 cm diameter
• Pollination: Primarily by beetles and large bees
• Timing: February-April (dry season), on leafless branches
• Spectacle: The bare-branched flowering creates a dramatic pink cloud effect visible across the forest

Fruit & Seeds

• Type: Large woody capsule (pixidium)
• Shape: Cylindrical to barrel-shaped
• Size: 10-15 cm long, 5-8 cm diameter
• Opening: Dehiscent - the top "cap" falls off when mature
• Seeds per Fruit: 20-40 winged seeds
• Seed Size: 2-3 cm including wing
• Aril: White, fleshy, edible by wildlife
• Dispersal: Wind-dispersed seeds; animals eat arils and scatter seeds
• Timing: May-August

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Geographic Distribution

Costa Rica Distribution

Cachimbo occurs primarily on the Caribbean slope and southern Pacific lowlands of Costa Rica:

• Caribbean Lowlands: Most common in Limón Province and northern Heredia
• Southern Pacific: Osa Peninsula and southern Puntarenas
• Northern Zone: Wet forests of Sarapiquí and San Carlos regions

Elevation Range

• Primary Range: 0-500 m
• Maximum: Up to 700 m in favorable microhabitats
• Optimal: Lowland tropical rainforest below 400 m

Habitat Preferences

• Forest Type: Primary old-growth tropical rainforest
• Position: Emergent canopy layer
• Topography: Well-drained slopes and gentle ridges
• Soil: Alluvial, sandy, or clayey soils with good drainage

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Habitat & Ecology

Ecological Role

Emergent Canopy Structure: As one of the tallest trees in the rainforest, Cachimbo creates critical structural diversity, providing unique habitat in the emergent layer above the main canopy. This uppermost layer experiences different temperature, humidity, and light conditions than the canopy below.

Wildlife Food Source: The white arils surrounding the seeds are consumed by numerous bird species, primates, and other arboreal mammals. The timing of fruit production (May-August) provides food during a critical period in the rainforest yearly cycle.

Nesting and Perch Sites: The massive crown and bare upper branches provide nesting sites for large birds including raptors, toucans, and parrots. The emergent position makes it valuable as a lookout perch for hawks and vultures.

Seed Dispersal: The winged seeds are wind-dispersed, but the fleshy arils attract animals that carry seeds to new locations, creating a dual dispersal strategy.

Wildlife Associations

• Birds: Toucans, parrots, raptors use crown for nesting and perching
• Mammals: Howler monkeys, spider monkeys, kinkajous feed on seed arils
• Insects: Beetles and large bees are primary pollinators; wood-boring beetles use dead wood
• Epiphytes: Massive branches support orchids, bromeliads, and ferns

Special Adaptations

Massive Buttresses: The flying buttress roots (7-8 m high) provide structural support in shallow tropical soils, distributing the tree's enormous weight and stabilizing it against strong winds.

Deciduous Leaf Drop: Shedding leaves before flowering conserves resources and makes the pink blooms more visible to pollinators flying above the canopy.

Emergent Strategy: Growing 10-20 meters above surrounding trees allows Cachimbo to monopolize sunlight while reducing competition, though it requires massive investment in trunk structure.

Beetle Pollination: Pink flowers adapted for beetle pollination are unusual in emergent trees and represent an evolutionary strategy to ensure pollination by abundant forest-floor insects that venture to the canopy.

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Uses & Applications

Timber & Wood Products

Wood Properties:

• Color: Heartwood is reddish-brown; sapwood cream to light brown
• Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
• Texture: Medium to coarse, uniform
• Density: Hard and heavy
• Durability: Good natural durability
• Workability: Moderate - requires sharp tools due to density

Applications:

• Furniture: High-quality tables, chairs, cabinets
• Interior Construction: Flooring, paneling, trim work
• Veneer: Decorative veneer for furniture
• Plywood: Face and core stock
• Boxes and Crates: Export-quality packing
• Railroad Ties: Historically used due to durability (now restricted)

Timber Caution: Listed as Vulnerable by IUCN due to overharvesting. Logging should only occur under sustainable forestry management plans with certification (FSC or equivalent).

Traditional Medicine

Bark Preparations:

• Fever Reduction: Bark infusions traditionally used to reduce fevers
• Cold Remedy: Combined with other plants in water infusions for treating colds
• Application: Bark is peeled, dried, and boiled to extract medicinal compounds

Modern Use: Limited scientific research on medicinal properties. Traditional use persists in indigenous and rural communities.

Wildlife and Ecological Value

• Reforestation: Increasingly used in tropical forest restoration projects
• Carbon Sequestration: Massive size makes it excellent for carbon storage
• Biodiversity: Supports diverse canopy ecosystems
• Watershed Protection: Deep roots and forest structure protect water quality

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Cultural Significance

Indigenous Knowledge

Cachimbo has been known to indigenous peoples of Central and South America for millennia. The tree's distinctive appearance - towering above all others with massive buttresses - made it a landmark in rainforest navigation. Indigenous communities recognized its value for wildlife, noting that animals would gather at fruiting trees.

The medicinal use of the bark for fever reduction is an ancient practice passed through generations of forest dwellers. The inner bark would be carefully harvested without girdling the tree, demonstrating sustainable use practices.

Modern Conservation

Vulnerable Status: Cachimbo's listing as Vulnerable by IUCN highlights the threat from unsustainable logging. Its slow growth rate and requirement for primary forest conditions make populations difficult to restore once depleted.

Reforestation Efforts: Costa Rican conservation organizations increasingly recognize Cachimbo as important for forest restoration. However, the tree's slow growth and requirement for intact forest ecosystems mean it only succeeds in later stages of succession, after pioneer species have prepared the site.

Ecotourism Value: The spectacular flowering of leafless pink-bloomed giants emerging above the canopy attracts nature tourists and photographers to Costa Rican rainforests.

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Conservation Status

IUCN Assessment

Status: Vulnerable (VU)
Population Trend: Decreasing
Assessment Year: Recent

Threats

Primary Threats:

1. Unsustainable Logging: High-value timber leads to selective logging pressure
2. Habitat Destruction: Deforestation of primary rainforests
3. Slow Regeneration: Takes decades to reach reproductive maturity
4. Limited Distribution: Restricted to undisturbed lowland rainforests

Secondary Threats:

• Climate change affecting rainfall patterns
• Forest fragmentation isolating populations
• Reduced disperser populations (monkeys, large birds)
• Illegal logging even in protected areas

Protection Measures

• Legal Protection: Protected in Costa Rican national parks and reserves
• CITES: Not currently listed but may require future protection
• Sustainable Forestry: Requires certification for legal harvest
• Reforestation: Included in tropical forest restoration projects

How You Can Help

1. Support Sustainable Forestry: Look for FSC-certified tropical hardwood
2. Protect Primary Forests: Support organizations preserving old-growth rainforest
3. Reforestation: Donate to projects restoring tropical forest
4. Ecotourism: Visit protected forests responsibly to support conservation economy
5. Awareness: Educate others about the importance of emergent rainforest trees

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Cultivation & Care

Growing Requirements

Climate: Strictly tropical - requires year-round warmth (minimum 20°C), high humidity (80%+), and abundant rainfall (2000-3000 mm annually). Will not survive even brief cold snaps below 15°C.

Site Selection: Only suitable for tropical lowland reforestation in areas with existing or recovering rainforest. Not appropriate for:

• Urban or suburban landscapes
• Coffee or shade plantations (too large)
• Windbreaks (requires intact forest)
• Areas subject to flooding or waterlogging

Soil: Adaptable to various tropical soils (alluvial, sandy, clayey) but requires:

• Good drainage (will not tolerate waterlogging)
• Depth of at least 1 meter for root development
• Acidic to slightly acidic pH (4.5-6.5)
• Reasonable organic matter content

Propagation

Seed Collection:

• Collect capsules as they begin to dehisce (cap loosening)
• Extract seeds with white arils attached
• Seeds viable for only 2-3 months - plant promptly
• Germination rate 60-80% with fresh seeds

Germination:

• Sow seeds in well-draining seedling mix
• Light shade initially, gradually increase to filtered light
• Keep consistently moist but not waterlogged
• Germination begins in 3-6 weeks
• Growth is slow initially (15-30 cm first year)

Nursery Care:

• Transplant seedlings to larger containers after 6 months
• Maintain in partial shade for first year
• Harden off gradually before outplanting
• Outplant when 50-80 cm tall (12-18 months)

Planting

Timing: Beginning of rainy season (May-June on Pacific slope; flexible on Caribbean slope)

Site Preparation:

• Clear competing vegetation in 2-meter radius
• Dig hole 2x the root ball size
• Amend with compost only if soil is severely degraded
• Do not fertilize - tree adapted to low-nutrient tropical soils

Spacing:

• Reforestation: 10-15 meters from other large trees
• Allow 20+ meters from buildings, roads, power lines
• Consider eventual massive size and crown spread

Establishment:

• Water weekly during dry periods in first year
• Mulch 5-10 cm deep around base (keep away from trunk)
• Protect from cattle, deer, and other browsers
• Monitor for competing vines and vegetation

Maintenance

Year 1-3:

• Clear competing vegetation 2-3 times per year
• Protect from browsing with fencing if necessary
• Water during extended dry periods
• Monitor for pest damage (rare but check for wood-boring beetles)

Year 4-10:

• Reduce vegetation clearing to once per year
• Tree should establish independence from maintenance
• Monitor health and growth rate
• Allow natural buttress development

Mature Tree:

• No maintenance required in natural forest setting
• Do not attempt to prune or shape - let grow naturally
• Allow massive buttresses to develop undisturbed
• Monitor for safety hazards near trails or buildings

Never:

• Do not fertilize (adapted to low-nutrient soils)
• Do not prune buttress roots or main trunk
• Do not plant in areas with infrastructure
• Do not attempt to grow outside tropical rainforest conditions

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Identification Tips

Key Identification Features

1. Massive Buttresses: Among the most impressive in Costa Rica (7-8 m high)
2. Emergent Height: Towers 10-20 m above surrounding canopy
3. Pink Flowers on Bare Branches: Spectacular dry-season display (Feb-April)
4. Large Woody Capsules: Distinctive barrel-shaped fruit with detachable cap
5. Shiny Leaves: Leathery, shiny upper surface; spirally arranged

Similar Species

Ceiba pentandra (Ceiba):

• Also emergent with large buttresses
• Spiny trunk (Cachimbo lacks spines)
• White-pink flowers vs. Cachimbo's bright pink
• Cotton-filled pods vs. woody capsules

Cariniana spp. (Abarco):

• Related species in same family
• Smaller stature (30-40 m vs. 45-60 m)
• Different fruit structure
• Less prominent buttresses

Terminalia amazonia (Surá):

• Also emergent with buttresses
• Buttresses less massive
• Different leaf arrangement (clustered at branch tips)
• Different fruit (winged samaras)

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Where to See It

Protected Areas in Costa Rica

Caribbean Lowlands:

• Tortuguero National Park: Excellent populations in primary forest
• Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge: Remote, undisturbed forests
• La Selva Biological Station: Accessible trails with marked specimens

Southern Pacific:

• Corcovado National Park: One of best places to see old-growth Cachimbo
• Piedras Blancas National Park: Good populations near Golfito
• Osa Peninsula Private Reserves: Various private reserves with mature specimens

Northern Zone:

• Sarapiquí Rainforest: Various private reserves and lodges
• Braulio Carrillo National Park: Lower elevations (below 400m)

Viewing Tips

• Look for emergent trees towering above canopy from lookout points
• Best viewing during flowering season (Feb-April) when pink blooms visible
• Binoculars essential for viewing flowers and crown
• Hire naturalist guide to identify from ground
• Some eco-lodges have observation towers providing canopy-level views

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External Resources

Scientific Databases

• Plants of the World Online - Kew Gardens↗
• IUCN Red List - Couratari guianensis↗
• RNGR Species Profile↗
• Useful Tropical Plants Database↗

Costa Rican Resources

• INBio - National Biodiversity Institute↗
• SINAC - National System of Conservation Areas↗
• Organization for Tropical Studies↗

Reforestation & Conservation

• Trees for the Future - Tropical Reforestation↗
• Rainforest Alliance - Sustainable Forestry↗
• FSC - Forest Stewardship Council↗

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References

1. Useful Tropical Plants Database - Couratari guianensis
2. RNGR (Reforestation, Nurseries & Genetics Resources) - Species Technical Sheet
3. IUCN Red List - Couratari guianensis Assessment
4. Plants of the World Online - Kew Science
5. US Forest Service - Tropical Timbers of the World
6. Arboretum Osa - Species Account
7. Local observations and field research in Costa Rican rainforests

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Last updated: January 14, 2026