Bowdichia virgilioides

Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth (Fabaceae) is a deciduous tree of the South American cerrado and savannas, reaching 5–16 m with a crooked trunk and rough, deeply fissured corky bark. Leaves are alternate, imparipinnate, 10–20 cm long, with 9–17 elliptic to oblong leaflets that are leathery and minutely pubescent beneath. Inflorescences are showy terminal and axillary panicles bearing numerous violet to deep blue-purple papilionaceous flowers about 1 cm long, typically appearing on leafless branches at the end of the dry season. The fruit is a flat, indehiscent, oblong samaroid legume 4–7 cm long, brown at maturity and containing one to two seeds. The heartwood is dense, dark brown, and richly figured, valued as a durable timber known as sucupira-preta. The species ranges from Panama south through Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.