Carboncillo
Acacia pennatula
Native Region
Mexico to Costa Rica
Max Height
8-15 meters (25-50 feet)
Family
Fabaceae
Conservation
LC
Uses
Distribution in Costa Rica
Legend
Elevation
0-1200m
Regions
- Guanacaste
- Puntarenas
- Alajuela
- San José
Season
Flowering
Jan-Mar, Dec
Fruiting
Feb-May
Carboncillo (Feather-leaved Acacia)
Carboncillo (Acacia pennatula) gets its name from "carbón" (charcoal)—this small tree produces some of the finest charcoal in Central America. Beyond fuel, it's a workhorse of Guanacaste's dry-forest pastoral systems: fixing nitrogen, feeding cattle during drought, providing living fences, and defining the spiny silhouette of Costa Rica's "Wild West."
Quick Reference
- Scientific Name
- Acacia pennatula
- Family
- Fabaceae (Legumes)
- Max Height
- 8-15 m (25-50 ft)
- Crown Spread
- 6-10 m
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Known For
- Charcoal, fodder
iNaturalist Observations
Community-powered species data
890
Observations
186
Observers
📸 Photo Gallery
Photos sourced from iNaturalist community science database. View all observations →↗
Taxonomy and Classification
- Acacia: From Greek "akantha" meaning thorn - pennatula: Latin meaning "little feather" - describes the delicate compound leaves - Carboncillo: Spanish diminutive of "carbón" (charcoal) - Taxonomic note: May be classified as Vachellia pennatula by some authorities
Common Names
| Language/Region | Common Name(s) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Feather-leaved Acacia | Leaf appearance |
| Spanish (Costa Rica) | Carboncillo, Carbonero | Charcoal tree |
| Spanish (Mexico) | Tepame, Huizache | Regional names |
| Spanish (Guatemala) | Espino, Subin | Thorny tree |
Physical Description
Overall Form
Carboncillo is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree with an often crooked trunk and spreading, sometimes umbrella-shaped crown. The branches are armed with paired thorns at the base of leaves—a characteristic of many acacias. During the dry season, it loses its leaves, revealing the angular branch structure.
Distinctive Features
Leaves
- Type: Bipinnate (twice-compound)
- Pinnae: 8-25 pairs
- Leaflets: Tiny, numerous (20-50 pairs)
- Appearance: Feathery, delicate
- Size: 10-20 cm long overall
- Timing: Deciduous in dry season
Bark & Thorns
- Bark Color: Dark gray to brown
- Texture: Rough, fissured
- Thorns: Paired, at leaf bases
- Thorn Length: 1-4 cm
- Wood: Dense, hard
- Good for: Excellent charcoal
Flowers
- Type: Globular heads (mimosoid)
- Color: Creamy white to pale yellow
- Size: 1-1.5 cm diameter
- Arrangement: Clusters from branches
- Fragrance: Sweet, attracts bees
- Timing: Late dry season
Fruits (Pods)
- Type: Legume pod
- Size: 10-15 cm long
- Color: Brown when mature
- Seeds: Several per pod
- Value: Excellent cattle fodder
- Timing: End of dry season
The Perfect Charcoal Tree
Traditional Fuel Production
Carboncillo has been prized for centuries for its exceptional charcoal. The dense, hard wood burns hot and long, producing charcoal that was historically preferred for blacksmithing, cooking, and even gunpowder production. While less common today, some rural communities still produce "carbón de carboncillo" using traditional earth-pit methods.
Charcoal Properties
- Very high heat output
- Long burning time
- Low smoke production
- Dense, heavy charcoal
- Excellent for metalwork
- Traditional cooking fuel
Modern Considerations
- Sustainable harvesting needed
- Coppicing regeneration
- Alternative fuels available
- Cultural heritage value
- Small-scale production continues
- Traditional knowledge preservation
Silvopastoral Value
Cattle and Landscape Management
In Guanacaste's extensive cattle ranching, Carboncillo is valued for multiple reasons. Its protein-rich pods and leaves provide crucial fodder during the harsh dry season when grasses fail. As a legume, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, improving pasture productivity. And its thorny branches make effective living fences.
Multiple Uses in Pastoral Systems
| Use | Part Used | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Cattle fodder | Pods, leaves | Protein-rich dry season feed |
| Living fence | Whole tree | Thorny barrier, fence posts |
| Nitrogen fixation | Root nodules | Soil fertility improvement |
| Shade | Crown | Reduces heat stress for cattle |
| Firewood | Branches | Excellent fuel wood |
| Charcoal | Trunk wood | High-quality cooking fuel |
Distribution in Costa Rica
Carboncillo is characteristic of Costa Rica's Pacific dry forest region, particularly Guanacaste province. Look for it in pastures, along fences, in secondary dry forest, and on hillsides. It's especially common in the agricultural landscapes between remaining forest patches, where it's often deliberately left by ranchers.
Regional Distribution
| Location | Province | Setting | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guanacaste lowlands | Guanacaste | Pastures, forest edges | Common |
| Nicoya Peninsula | Guanacaste | Dry hillsides | Common |
| Tempisque basin | Guanacaste | Agricultural areas | Abundant |
| Northern Puntarenas | Puntarenas | Dry zones | Moderate |
| Central Valley (dry) | Alajuela | Western slopes | Occasional |
Ecological Role
Dry Forest Ecosystem
Ecosystem Functions
- Nitrogen fixation
- Soil improvement
- Erosion control
- Wildlife shelter
- Pollinator support
- Seed bank contributor
Wildlife Interactions
- Bees attracted to flowers
- Cattle disperse seeds
- Birds nest in branches
- Small mammals use cover
- Deer browse leaves
- Insects in bark
Pioneer and Recovery
Carboncillo readily colonizes disturbed areas in the dry forest zone. Its ability to fix nitrogen makes it valuable for restoring degraded pastures and preparing soil for other species. When managing secondary dry forest, allowing Carboncillo to grow can accelerate succession.
Growing Information
Cultivation
| Factor | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | Tropical dry | Needs distinct dry season |
| Temperature | 22-35°C (72-95°F) | Heat tolerant |
| Rainfall | 800-1800mm annually | Drought tolerant |
| Soil | Various, well-drained | Tolerates poor soils |
| Light | Full sun | Needs open conditions |
| Propagation | Seeds | Scarify for best germination |
Planting Uses
- Living fences
- Silvopastoral systems
- Dry forest restoration
- Firewood plantations
- Soil improvement
- Erosion control
Management Notes
- Coppices well
- Can become thorny thicket
- Control if invasive concerns
- Prune for fence maintenance
- Protect from overgrazing
- Allow pod development
Interesting Facts
Related Species
| Species | Common Name | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Acacia collinsii | Cornizuelo | Hollow thorns with ants |
| Acacia farnesiana | Aromo | More fragrant flowers |
| Senna atomaria | Vainillo | Different flowers, no thorns |
| Enterolobium cyclocarpum | Guanacaste | Much larger, ear-shaped pods |
References and Resources
| Resource | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| iNaturalist | Observations | https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/564932-Acacia-pennatula |
| GBIF | Distribution Data | https://www.gbif.org/species/2978509 |
| Tropicos | Botanical Database | https://www.tropicos.org/name/13048074 |
