Copaifera is a genus of tropical plants in the legume family Fabaceae. It includes 40 species native to the tropical Americas (Nicaragua to northeastern Argentina), west and central tropical Africa, and Borneo.

The scientific name means "copal-bearer" (or more accurately, copaiba-bearer), since economically important resins and essential oils can be acquired from them. They are also important for production of biodiesel and wood, especially Copaifera langsdorffii. Other species are threatened, mainly by deforestation.

Oil extracts from the genus are of particular interest as a source of antimycobacterial agents.

Species

40 species are accepted:

• Copaifera appendiculata

• Copaifera arenicola

• Copaifera aromatica

• Copaifera baumiana

• Copaifera bracteata

• Copaifera camibar

• Copaifera canime

• Copaifera coriacea

• Copaifera depilis

• Copaifera duckei

• Copaifera elliptica

• Copaifera epunctata

• Copaifera glycycarpa

• Copaifera guyanensis

• Copaifera gynohirsuta

• Copaifera krukovii

• Copaifera langsdorffii – Diesel tree, kerosene tree, kupa'y, cabismo, copaúva

• Copaifera lucens

• Copaifera luetzelburgii

• Copaifera magnifolia

• Copaifera majorina

• Copaifera malmei

• Copaifera marginata

• Copaifera martii

• Copaifera mildbraedii

• Copaifera multijuga

• Copaifera nana

• Copaifera oblongifolia

• Copaifera officinalis

• Copaifera palustris

• Copaifera panamensis – Cabimo

• Copaifera paupera

• Copaifera piresii

• Copaifera pubiflora

• Copaifera religiosa

• Copaifera rondonii

• Copaifera sabulicola

• Copaifera salikounda

• Copaifera trapezifolia

• Copaifera venezuelana

See also

• Copaene

References