Mora oleifera
| Mora oleifera | |
|---|---|
| |
| Trunk | |
| |
| Upper stem and foliage | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Mora |
| Species: | M. oleifera
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mora oleifera (Triana ex Hemsl.) Ducke
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Mora oleifera (syn. Mora megistosperma) is a species of rainforest tree in the bean family Fabaceae, cassia subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It is commonly called mora or mangle nato, and is found in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador.[1] It grows 45 metres (148 ft) in height and up to 4 m (13 ft) diameter at breast height. It is noted for producing the largest seeds of any dicot plant (bean-shaped, typical of the family); and up to 18 cm (7 in) long by 15 cm (6 in) wide,[2] and up to 10 cm (4 in) thick.[3] and can weigh up to 1 kg (2.2 lb),[4][5] and is exceeded only by Lodoicea maldivica and Cocos nucifera. This seed is in a single-seeded legume which develops from a tiny flower only 1 mm in width. These white flowers are in little spikes about 12 cm (5 in) long. The leaves are paripinnate with just two pairs of ovate or oblong leaflets, each leaflet up to 18 cm (7 in) long.[6] The wood is very heavy and rich in tannins.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Mora oleifera (Triana ex Hemsl.) Ducke". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
- ^ Janzen, Daniel H (1983). Costa Rican Natural History. Chicago: Univ. Chicago Press. pp. 280–281.
- ^ Cooke, Dr. Mordechai C. (1890). Freaks and Marvels of Plant Life. London: Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge. p. 366.
- ^ Janzen. Costa Rican Nat. Hist loc. cit.
- ^ "Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica -Volume XV number 4". October 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2008. excellent photograph
- ^ "Mora oleifera". Retrieved 8 April 2023.
- ^ Little, E. L.; Dixon, R. G. (1969). Arboles communes de la Provincia de Esmeraldas. FAO, Rome.
External links
- Blog with photograph of the seed: [1]