🌳 Botanical Family Guide
Costa Rica Tree Atlas
54 families • 169 species
Acanthaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Black MangroveAvicennia germinans
Anacardiaceae
7 spp.Cashew family - resinous, drupes, some allergenic
Representative species
- EspavelAnacardium excelsum
- JoboSpondias mombin
- JocoteSpondias purpurea
- MangoMangifera indica
- MarañónAnacardium occidentale
- + 2 and more...
Annonaceae
4 spp.Representative species
- AnonaAnnona reticulata
- Anona ColoradaAnnona purpurea
- GuanábanaAnnona muricata
- Guanábana CimarronaAnnona montana
Apocynaceae
2 spp.Representative species
- ContraRauvolfia tetraphylla
- Yellow OleanderThevetia peruviana
Araliaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- LoritoOreopanax xalapensis
Arecaceae
9 spp.Palm family - unbranched stems, large compound leaves
Representative species
- CocoCocos nucifera
- CorozoElaeis oleifera
- CoyolAcrocomia aculeata
- Palma Cacho de VenadoOenocarpus bataua
- Palma de EscobaCryosophila albida
- + 4 and more...
Asparagaceae
2 spp.Representative species
- Caña IndiaDracaena fragrans
- Flor de ItaboYucca guatemalensis
Bignoniaceae
8 spp.Trumpet vine family - showy flowers, often opposite leaves
Representative species
- African Tulip TreeSpathodea campanulata
- Cortez BlancoRoseodendron donnell-smithii
- Cortez NegroTabebuia impetiginosa
- Corteza AmarillaHandroanthus ochraceus
- JacarandaJacaranda mimosifolia
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Boraginaceae
3 spp.Borage family - rough hairy leaves, coiled flower clusters
Representative species
- LaurelCordia alliodora
- Laurel NegroCordia megalantha
- MuñecoCordia collococca
Burseraceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Indio DesnudoBursera simaruba
Cactaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- PitahayaHylocereus costaricensis
Calophyllaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Cedro MaríaCalophyllum brasiliense
Caricaceae
2 spp.Representative species
- PapayaCarica papaya
- PapayilloVasconcellea cauliflora
Chrysobalanaceae
2 spp.Cocoplum family - often buttressed, drupes
Representative species
- AlcornoqueLicania arborea
- IcacoChrysobalanus icaco
Clusiaceae
2 spp.Representative species
- CerilloSymphonia globulifera
- CopeyClusia rosea
Combretaceae
4 spp.Representative species
- AmarillónTerminalia amazonia
- Buttonwood MangroveConocarpus erectus
- SuráTerminalia oblonga
- White MangroveLaguncularia racemosa
Costaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Caña AgriaCostus spicatus
Cunoniaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- ArrayánWeinmannia pinnata
Cupressaceae
1 sp.Cypress family - scale-like leaves, woody cones
Representative species
- CiprésCupressus lusitanica
Euphorbiaceae
4 spp.Spurge family - milky latex, varied fruit types
Representative species
- JavilloHura crepitans
- ManchineelHippomane mancinella
- TarguáCroton draco
- YosSapium glandulosum
Fabaceae
34 spp.Legume family - nitrogen-fixing, compound leaves, pod fruits
Representative species
- AlmendroDipteryx panamensis
- Balsam TreeMyroxylon balsamum
- CamíbarCopaifera aromatica
- Caña FístulaCassia fistula
- CaraoCassia grandis
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Fagaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Roble Encino (Highland Oak)Quercus spp.
Lamiaceae
2 spp.Representative species
- GmelinaGmelina arborea
- TeakTectona grandis
Lauraceae
4 spp.Laurel family - aromatic, simple alternate leaves
Representative species
- AguacatePersea americana
- AguacatilloPersea caerulea
- QuizarráNectandra salicina
- SiguaNectandra cissiflora
Lecythidaceae
2 spp.Representative species
- CachimboCouratari guianensis
- Olla de MonoLecythis ampla
Malpighiaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- NanceByrsonima crassifolia
Malvaceae
9 spp.Mallow family - often mucilaginous, 5-petaled flowers
Representative species
- BalsaOchroma pyramidale
- BuríoHeliocarpus appendiculatus
- CacaoTheobroma cacao
- CeibaCeiba pentandra
- GuácimoGuazuma ulmifolia
- + 4 and more...
Melastomataceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Lengua de VacaMiconia argentea
Meliaceae
6 spp.Mahogany family - pinnate leaves, valuable timber
Representative species
- CaobaSwietenia macrophylla
- CaobillaCarapa guianensis
- Cedro AmargoCedrela odorata
- Cedro DulceCedrela tonduzii
- Cedro RealCedrela fissilis
- + 1 and more...
Moraceae
10 spp.Fig family - milky latex, multiple fruits
Representative species
- AchotilloBrosimum costaricanum
- Fruta de PanArtocarpus altilis
- HiguerónFicus insipida
- LechosoBrosimum utile
- Lechoso MontañeroBrosimum lactescens
- + 5 and more...
Muntingiaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- CapulínMuntingia calabura
Myristicaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Fruta DoradaVirola koschnyi
Myrtaceae
7 spp.Myrtle family - aromatic, opposite leaves with oil glands
Representative species
- ArazáEugenia stipitata
- CasPsidium friedrichsthalianum
- Guayaba ChilenaAcca sellowiana
- GuayaboPsidium guajava
- Manzana de AguaSyzygium malaccense
- + 2 and more...
Olacaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- ManúMinquartia guianensis
Oxalidaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- CarambolaAverrhoa carambola
Phyllanthaceae
2 spp.Representative species
- PilónHyeronima alchorneoides
- ZapateroHieronyma oblonga
Pinaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Caribbean PinePinus caribaea
Poaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Bambu GiganteGuadua angustifolia
Podocarpaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- CiprecilloPodocarpus costaricensis
Polygonaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- PapaturroCoccoloba caracasana
Rhizophoraceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Red MangroveRhizophora mangle
Rubiaceae
2 spp.Coffee family - opposite leaves with stipules
Representative species
- MadroñoCalycophyllum candidissimum
- QuinaCinchona pubescens
Sapindaceae
4 spp.Representative species
- JaboncilloSapindus saponaria
- MamónMelicoccus bijugatus
- Mamón ChinoNephelium lappaceum
- RambutanNephelium lappaceum
Sapotaceae
4 spp.Sapote family - milky latex, sweet edible fruits
Representative species
- CaimitoChrysophyllum cainito
- NísperoManilkara zapota
- TempisqueSideroxylon capiri
- ZapotePouteria sapota
Simaroubaceae
2 spp.Representative species
- AceitunoSimarouba amara
- ComenegroSimarouba glauca
Solanaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Wild Tobacco TreeAcnistus arborescens
Tetrameristaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Tea MangrovePelliciera rhizophorae
Urticaceae
2 spp.Nettle family - often with stinging hairs, simple leaves
Representative species
- Guarumbo HembraCecropia peltata
- GuarumoCecropia obtusifolia
Vochysiaceae
3 spp.Representative species
- BotarramaVochysia ferruginea
- Chancho BlancoVochysia guatemalensis
- MayoVochysia hondurensis
Zygophyllaceae
1 sp.Representative species
- Guayacán RealGuaiacum sanctum