Piscidia carthagenensis
Matazarno is a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves during the dry season and stands out for its imposing presence in the island landscape. It reaches heights of up to 15 meters.
It produces inflorescences of small white to rose-pink flowers. The fruit is a legume with four longitudinal, membranous wings that facilitate wind dispersal of seeds.
Its tall, firm branches are the preferred nesting and foraging sites for endemic birds — including the Galápagos flycatcher (Myiarchus magnirostris) and several species of Darwin’s finches.
Because its timber is virtually rot-proof, matazarno was historically felled in large quantities for the manufacture of fence posts, house beams, and the keels of local vessels.
