Machaerium capote

Machaerium capote is a medium to large evergreen tree in the family Fabaceae (subfamily Faboideae) native to humid forests of northern South America, particularly Colombia and Venezuela. It typically reaches 15–25 m in height with a straight bole, smooth to slightly fissured grey-brown bark, and a spreading crown. The leaves are alternate and imparipinnate, 10–20 cm long, with five to eleven alternate to subopposite oblong-elliptic leaflets that are dark green and glabrous above and paler below. Like other species of Machaerium, juvenile plants and lower branches may bear small recurved stipular spines. Inflorescences are axillary or terminal panicles of small pea-like flowers, typically pale violet to lilac, with the standard petal often marked with paler veins. The fruit is a one-seeded samaroid legume — a flattened, indehiscent pod with a long terminal wing that aids wind dispersal, a diagnostic feature of the genus. The wood is hard, heavy, and durable, valued locally as a timber.