Palo di Brasil

Another flowering tree type is Brasil (Haematoxylon brasiletto). This tree type was more abundant on Aruba, and consequently the Spaniards called Aruba, Brasilwood Island. There is still one district which carries the name of this tree. In colonial times the timber of Brasil was used in the production of a red dye for the textile industry. Therefore Brasil was logged at a large scale. Nowadays only 100 trees are known to be growing in the wilderness. Some of them are found near the hotels whereupon the government asked the department of Public Housing and Environment to conserve this area for nature. At the West side of Bubali Bird Sanctuary, there are 30 flowering trees. Brasil has a characteristic undulating trunk. The leaves are small and round and the branches have thorns. The small yellow flowers are all over the length of the branches.

For more information call +297 585-8102 or email Department of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries directly.

[Information courtesy of Mr. Facundo Franken of the Department of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries (DLVVM) - Nature Management]

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