Dipteryx oleifera
VU

Dipteryx oleifera

Unknown

Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Ennio Arcia, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ennio Arcia

Overview

Dipteryx oleifera, the tonka bean, eboe, choibá, or almendro tree, is a species of emergent rainforest tree up to 55 m (180 ft) tall in the family Fabaceae, native to Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador.

Almendro faces significant pressure from widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Central American range, driven by agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and logging operations. The species' slow growth rate and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to these ongoing threats, while its valuable timber and seeds create additional harvesting pressure.

Threat summary

Habitat

Almendro occurs in tropical moist lowland forests and premontane forests from sea level to approximately 1,000 meters elevation. The species typically grows in primary and mature secondary forests with well-drained soils, often found along rivers and in areas with high rainfall throughout Central America from Nicaragua to Colombia.

Other threatened species in Fabaceae

Macrolobium pittieriEN

Macrolobium pittieri

Unknown
EN

Chamaecrista cupeyalensis

Unknown
CR

Mexican royal ebony

Swartzia cubensis

Unknown
CR

Galactia rotundata

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dipteryx oleifera classified as Vulnerable?
Dipteryx oleifera is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Almendro faces significant pressure from widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Central American range, driven by agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and logging operations. The species' slow growth rate and specific habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to these ongoing threats, while its valuable timber and seeds create additional harvesting pressure.
Where does Dipteryx oleifera live?
Dipteryx oleifera occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dipteryx oleifera?
The main threats to Dipteryx oleifera are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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