Biesanz Woodworks Botanical GardenEscazu, San Jose, Costa Ricahttp://www.biesanz.com http://www.facebook.com/biesanzwoodworks

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Brazilian Rosewood Khat

Cocobolo Qat

Fabaceae Central America Celastraceae Africa

Coffee Miracle Fruit

Café Fruta Milagrosa

Synsepalum dulcificumRubiaceae Ethiopia Sapotaceae West Africa

Changes the taste of everything

Dalbergia retusa

Highly figured, very dense wood, sinks in water

Catha edulis

Mild narcotic used in Yemen, Somalia and Ethiopia

Coffea arabica

Will make lemons taste sweet for 15 minutes

Cocoa Peach palm

Cacao Pejiballe

Malvaceae Latin America Arecaceae Central and South America

Incienso Lemon Eucalyptus

Chirraca

Leguminosae Central and South America Myrtaceae Australia

This tree was snapped in half - no visible damage nowA highland variety of Myroxylon balsamum. Dense wood; beautiful flowers; traditional incense, flavor for aguardiente

Theobroma cacao Bactris gasipaes

Chocolate comes from the fermented seeds; edible pulp Oily fruit; also produces heart of palm

Var. of Myroxylon balsamum Corymbia citriodora

Leaves have citronella; perfume; insect repellent

Stevia Chocolate Mint

Sweetleaf Menta chocolate

Asteraceae North and South America Lamiaceae Europe

Dutchman's Pipe Gardenia

Birthwort

Aristolochiaceae Central America Rubiaceae Africa, Asia, Oceana

Gardenia jasminoides

Attracts flies with odor and traps them for 24 hours Perfumed flowers

Stevia eupatoria & 200+ others Mentha piperita cv.

Strong sweetener, no calories Smells like a Peppermint Pattie

Aristolochia grandiflora

Cannibal Fruit Quassia

Castaño de agua Hombre grande

Malvaceae Central and South America Simaroubaceae Brazil

Abyssinian banana Tea tree

False banana Arbol de té

Musaceae Africa Myrtaceae Australia

Anti-fungal, anti bacterial

Pachira aquatica Quassia amara L.

Appetite enhancer; anti parasite; hangover remedy

Ensete ventricosum Melaleuca alternifolia

Fruits only once and dies. Grows 700 to 1600m altitude

Ornamental; edible

Shampoo Ginger Torch Ginger

Maracas Bastón del emperador

Zingiberaceae India Zingiberaceae Indo Pacific

flower - it exudes a perfumed, clear, slimey juice CondimentAlso for toothache; indigestion; sprains; baking

Swiss Cheese Plant

Malinche Mano de tigre

Fabaceae Africa Araceae Mexico to Panama

cause blistering, loss of voice due to oxalic acid

Zingiber zerumbet Etlingera elatior

A perfumed hair conditioner. Run your hand up the

Monstera deliciosa

Edible fruit takes one year to ripen; unripe fruit can

Edible shoots, fruit, and roots; perfume, shampoo

Delonix regia

ornamental

Lemongrass

Chaperno Zacate limón

Fabaceae Central America India

manuscripts

Annatto Dragonfruit

Achiote Pitaya

Bixaceae Americas Mexico, Central and South America

Bixa orellana Hylocereus costaricensis

Bright red waxy food coloring; hair dye; lipstick

Cooking herb; antifungal; preservative for ancient

Fragrant flower blooms only at night; eating may result in pseudohematuria (red pee). Fruit reminiscent of kiwi.

Rare and overharvested; beautiful flowers, dense wood

Cymbopogon sppLonchocarpus phaseolifolius

This tree planted in 2002

Vetiver Surinam Cherry

Indian Swamp Grass Pitanga

Poaceae India Myrtaceae Brazil

Yos Muñeco

Euphorbiaceae Neotropics Boraginaceae Southern Mexico to Costa Rica

Sapium sp. Cordia collococa

Pioneer tree; good for reforestation in harsh conditions

Non invasive, 3-4 meter deep roots hold soil, closely planted, makes a hedge that slows water runoff, allowing silt to settle out. Very useful! Roots are the perfume base note in Chanel #5

Feeds birdsFeeds birds and monkeys

Chrysopogon zizanioides Eugenia uniflora

Fruit

Brugmansia Dumb cane or Diefffenbachia

Reina de la noche Lotería

Solanaceae South America Araceae

irritation, excessive drooling, and localized swelling

Black bamboo

Bambu negra Cortez negro

China Bignoniaceae Mexico to Argentina

in sunlight Contains lapachol, topical antibiotic and disinfectant

Toxic; a host of unpleasant symptoms, including oral

Phyllostachys nigra Tabebuia impetiginosa

Lumber, food, musical instruments; becomes blacker Rare; Beautiful flowers; very hard wood; anti cancer

Poisonous; can be fatal. Intensely perfumed. Sometimes ingested for recreational or shamanic intoxication as the plant contains the tropane alkaloids scopolamine and atropine.

Brugmansia × candida Dieffenbachia bowmannii

Twinberry Wild Tobacco

Guayabillo Güitite

Myrtaceae Central America Solanacae Central and South America

tree grow large

Night blooming Jasmin Florida toadwood

Seis de la tarde Cascua

Solanaceae Sapinidaceae

Robin, or Yigüirro.

Feeds birds; excellent base for orchids; grows from cut branches. Fruit and flowers appear on the trunk

Cestrum nocturnum

Intensely fragrant evening flower, possibly poisonous to eat. Grows from cuttings

Favorite food of the national bird, the Clay Colored

Extremely rare, very handsome. Only in CR does this

Acnistus arborescensMyrcianthes fragrans

Cupania glabra

Cardamom

Cardamomo Balsa

Zingiberaceae Asia Malvaceae Brazil to Mexico

We planted this tree in 2001

Brazilian Red Cloak Papyrus

Pavón Papiro

Acanthaceae Venezuela Cyperaceae North Africa

Megaskepasma erythrochlamys

Ornamental Used to make paper

for the seed pods and orchid-like flowers.

Amomum elettaria Ochroma pyramidale

Cyperus papyrus

Used in coffee, baked goods, cooking. Look at the base Very light wood; very fast growing

Lipstick palm Zamia

Sealing wax palm

Arecaceae Sumatra Zamiaceae Tropical America

Uruca Red Banana

Meliaceae Musaceae Indonesia

200,000,000 years old, predating flowering plants. Poisonous; conifers; produce motile sperm; host blue green algae.

Trichilia Havanensis Musa Zebrina

brides would carry a flowering branch to churchTiny fragrant flowers herald the dry season. Rural

Cyrtostachys renda Zamia spp.

Cecropia

Guarumo Ortiga

Moraceae Urticaceae Sur America; America Central

Yos Muñeco

Euphorbiaceae Neotropics Boraginaceae Southern Mexico to Costa Rica

Sapium sp. Cordia collococa

Pioneer tree; good for reforestation in harsh conditions Feeds birdsFeeds birds and monkeys

Cecropia peltata Urera baccifera

Often hosts ant colonies as a defense; reliable food Used for paper; to remove kidney stonessource for wildlife, pioneer tree

Breadfruit GuavaCastaño Guayaba

Moraceae Malaysia Myrtaceae Mexico, Central, South America

Jambu Nipplefruit, Tittyfruit

Manzana de Agua Pichichios

Myrtaceae Malaysia and Indonesia Solanaceae South America

Artocarpus altilis Psidium spp.

Fruit. Beautiful tree; leaves a carpet of magenta on the ground when it flowers

Used for asthma; colds; cockroach replellent; antifungal; etc. Poisonous

Syzygium malaccense Solanum mammosum

Breadfruit is one of the highest-yielding food plants, with a single tree producing up to 200 or more fruits per season.

Nutritional "superfruit" very rich in Vit A and C; seeds have omega-3, omega-6 and fiber. Good for wildlife.

Frangipani

Sacuanjoche Sotacaballo

Apocynaceae Tropical Americas Leguminosae Tropical Americas

Persian Shield

Escudo de Persa Zorillo

Acanthaceae Myanmar Solanaceae Central America

Cestrum racemosum

A riverside tree with great erosion control. Feeds fish, reptiles, etc from its abundant harvest. Ornamental

Flowers

Strobilanthes dyerianus

Strong perfume; poisonous

Zygia longifoliaPlumeria spp.

Incienso Tonka Bean

Chirraca Almendro de montaña

Leguminosae Central and South America Fabaceae Tropical Americas

Pomegranate Blood Tree

Granada Targuá sangredrago

Lythraceae Middle East Euforbiácea

Punica granatum Croton draco

Used to prevent bleeding of the gums.

Var. of Myroxylon balsamum Dipteryx panamensis

Fruit; source of Grenadine; Ayurvedic medicine

Rare, with a narrow distribution. One of the heaviest woods in the world, sinks in water. V. important great green macaw tree.

A highland variety of Myroxylon balsamum. Dense wood; beautiful flowers; traditional incense, flavor for aguardiente

Banyan

Cristóbal Higuillo

Leguminosae America Tropical Morácea America Tropical

Lemon Mangosteen

Corteza Amarilla Jorco

Bignoniaceae South America Mexico to Peru

Tabebuia ochracea Garcinia intermedia

Rare. Very hard beautiful wood; used for marimbas and oxcart wheels because of the beautiful sound

Wild fig; important tree for wildlife, especially bats. Smaller leaves than the other figs, used for bonsais

Platymiscium pinnatum Ficus pertusa

Orange Jasmine

Rutaceae Acanthaceae

Mardi gras Pencil Tree

Sticks on fire

Zingerberaceae Mexico to Peru Euphorbiaceae Africa

Murraya paniculata Schaueria calycotricha

fragrant flowers; analgesic; tool handles; hedges

Renealmia alpinia Euphorbia tirucalli

Perfume; edible Poisonous latex can be converted to a gasoline equivalent; can cause blindness; many medicinal uses

Stunning yellow flowers; extremely heavy greenish wood; bark possibly useful against cancer.

Wildlife forage, fruits when food is scarce; small tree

Klinki Black pepper

Pimienta negra

Araucariaceae Papua New Guinea Piperaceae India

Vanilla Bamboo costus

Vainilla Costus bambu

Orchidaceae Papua New Guinea India

Costaceae

Flowers are greenish-yellow, with a diameter of 5 cm (2 in). They last only a day, and must be pollinated manually.

Vanilla planifolia Costus stenophyllus

Araucaria hunsteinii Piper nigram

Grows up to 89 meters tall and 3 meters thick

Bottle palm Madagascar Tree Fern

Palmiste Gargoulette Helecho de Madagascar

Angiopteris evecta

Arecaceae Round Island, Mauritius Marattiales Australia

Salak palm

Palma salacca

Arecaceae Indonesia

Spiny; delicious fruit

Salacca zalacca

Mature fronds are up to 8 meters long. Endangered

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis