Protium panamensis (Rose) I.M.
Johnston
Common Name: CANFÍN
Occasional understory to sub-canopy (10-20 m) evergreen tree
found uniformly scattered throughout all but the driest forest
habitats. This tree is renown for its flammability: even the green
wood ignites readily due to the highly combustible nature of Canfín's
, hydrocarbon-based sap.
Description: Canfín is usually a
small tree, though its trunk may at times exceed 40 cm
in diameter. It has a straight, cylindrical bole that is frequently
marked by elevated knobs - branch scars - and sometimes by encircling
rings as well. Canfín bark is smooth, creme-colored or
tan, and finely textured. It retains large quantities of clear,
odorous sap, as do the twigs and leaves. The species has a thick,
narrow, and regularly shaped crown. Leaves are extremely
large (40 cm by 25 cm), imparipinnate, and alternate. Each of
the 7 leaflets (20 cm by 5 cm) has a narrow, finger-like shape,
a wavy margin, and a small, finely pointed drip tip. New leaves
are generated (and some older, yellow ones are shed) late in the
wet season, from about October to December. Flowers are
imperfect and the sexes are borne on different trees (dioecious).
Male flowers are produced in long, stringy, subterminal panicles
and are quite abundant though individually small (3 mm). Female
flowers are fewer in number and found on stouter and shorter sub-terminal
panicles located on the uppermost branches of the trees. They
are pale-green or white and contain four minute petals and eight
stamens. The aroma they emit is strong and sweet (Flora of Panama).
Blossoming occurs in April and is a highly regular and synchronized
event. Fruits are relatively large (4 cm) valvate capsules
containing 2 to 4 sections. Green at first, these fruits are held
upright in the tree and above the foliage (quite unlike those
of P. copal). They ripen a deep red color and split open, revealing
narrow, angular (wedge-shaped), gray-brown seeds surrounded by
thick and pasty white arils. Each ariled seed falls from its capsule
and dangles beneath it, suspended by a thin thread. Fruits mature
in August (this species has a very discrete and punctuated fruiting
season). Protium seeds germinate within a couple of weeks of harvest.
Similar Species: Trichilia tuberculata
is a tree with similar stature and foliage to P. panamensis.
To distinguish them, look for Protium's larger leaves; longer,
finger-like (not tapering) leaflets; and opposite leaflet arrangement
along the petiole (versus Trichilia's alternate arrangement).
Natural History: Protium
flowers are probably pollinated by insects while its fruits are
dispersed by birds.
Uses: The flammable nature of
Canfín sap makes the green wood and bark of this species
useful as kindling for starting campfires and the like. Apparently
the sap of related species has been used as incense and the wood
for furniture and plywood (Allen, 1956). One wonders if this species
might have commercial value as a source of hydrocarbons if planted
on a massive scale.
Distribution: Canfín is
found in most very humid, deep forest habitats and it occurs all
along Costa Rica's middle to southwest Pacific lowland region.
It ranges from Costa Rica to Colombia (Holdridge & Poveda,
1975).
Fruit Leaf
Description: Canfín is usually a
small tree, though its trunk may at times exceed 40 cm
in diameter. It has a straight, cylindrical bole that is frequently
marked by elevated knobs - branch scars - and sometimes by encircling
rings as well. Canfín bark is smooth, creme-colored or
tan, and finely textured. It retains large quantities of clear,
odorous sap, as do the twigs and leaves. The species has a thick,
narrow, and regularly shaped crown. Leaves are extremely
large (40 cm by 25 cm), imparipinnate, and alternate. Each of
the 7 leaflets (20 cm by 5 cm) has a narrow, finger-like shape,
a wavy margin, and a small, finely pointed drip tip. New leaves
are generated (and some older, yellow ones are shed) late in the
wet season, from about October to December. Flowers are
imperfect and the sexes are borne on different trees (dioecious).
Male flowers are produced in long, stringy, subterminal panicles
and are quite abundant though individually small (3 mm). Female
flowers are fewer in number and found on stouter and shorter sub-terminal
panicles located on the uppermost branches of the trees. They
are pale-green or white and contain four minute petals and eight
stamens. The aroma they emit is strong and sweet (Flora of Panama).
Blossoming occurs in April and is a highly regular and synchronized
event. Fruits are relatively large (4 cm) valvate capsules
containing 2 to 4 sections. Green at first, these fruits are held
upright in the tree and above the foliage (quite unlike those
of P. copal). They ripen a deep red color and split open, revealing
narrow, angular (wedge-shaped), gray-brown seeds surrounded by
thick and pasty white arils. Each ariled seed falls from its capsule
and dangles beneath it, suspended by a thin thread. Fruits mature
in August (this species has a very discrete and punctuated fruiting
season). Protium seeds germinate within a couple of weeks of harvest.