Santa Maria / Bari

The tree of golden medicinal sap. Its resin, known as "Maria oil," has been used for centuries as a natural healing agent. Its fine reddish wood is highly valued in cabinetry.

Calophyllum brasiliense, known in Panama as maría or bari, is a tree in the Calophyllaceae family inhabiting riverbanks and wet tropical forests. Its leaves are leathery and glossy with very marked parallel veins. Its trunk exudes a golden resin—"Maria oil" or "Maria balm"—used in traditional medicine as a healing agent, anti-inflammatory, and ulcer treatment. The wood is fine, reddish to brown, and used in cabinetry, flooring, and construction. It reaches 20-30 meters and its fruits are green spherical drupes. It is common in wet forests on both Panamanian slopes.

Habitat

Wet forests, riverbanks, and flood zones in lowlands on both slopes