Description

Divi-Divi is a leguminous tree or large shrub native to the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and northern and western South America. Common names include , cascalote, guaracabuya, guatapana, nacascol, and watapana. Divi-divi is a large shrub or tree with thorny leaves. It grows in Sri Lanka, Brazil, and other parts of South America. Its seeds are ground or roasted to make medicine. People take divi-divi for malaria, fever, diabetes, infection of the intestines by parasites, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Characteristics:

rarely reaches its maximum height of 9 m (30 ft) because its growth is contorted by the trade winds that batter the exposed coastal sites where it often grows. In other environments it grows into a low dome shape with a clear sub canopy space. Leaves are bipinnate, with 5–10 pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 15–25 pairs of leaflets; the individual leaflets are 7 mm long and 2 mm broad. The fruit is a twisted pod 5 cm (2.0 in) long.

Medicinal uses:

It grows in Sri Lanka, Brazil, and other parts of South America. Its seeds are ground or roasted to make medicine. People take divi-divi for malaria, fever, diabetes, infection of the intestines by parasites, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.