Caesalpinia

Taxobox
name = "Caesalpinia"

---

image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Caesalpinia pulcherrima"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
subfamilia = Caesalpinioideae
genus = "Caesalpinia"
genus_authority = L.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

"Caesalpinia" is the name of a genus of controversial size (different publications including between 70 and 165 species, mostly depending on inclusion or exclusion of various genera such as "Hoffmanseggia"), consisting of tropical and subtropical woody plants. It is named after the botanist Andrea Cesalpino.

The name Caesalpiniaceae at family level, or Caesalpinioideae at the level of subfamily, is based on this generic name.

Some species are grown for their ornamental flowers, and "C. echinata", Brazilwood, is the source of a historically important dye called brazilin and of the wood for violin bows.

;Selected species
*"Caesalpinia bonduc" (Nickernut)
*"Caesalpinia cassioides"
*"Caesalpinia conzattii"
*"Caesalpinia coriaria" (Divi-divi)
*"Caesalpinia decapetala" (Mysore Thorn)
*"Caesalpinia echinata" (Brazilwood)
*"Caesalpinia ferrea"
*"Caesalpinia gilliesii" ("Bird of Paradise")
*"Caesalpinia mexicana"
*"Caesalpinia platyloba"
*"Caesalpinia pulcherrima"
*"Caesalpinia punctata" (Quebrahacha, Kibrahacha in Aruba)
*"Caesalpinia reticulata"
*"Caesalpinia sappan" (Sappanwood)
*"Caesalpinia spinosa"
*"Caesalpinia vesicaria"
*"Caesalpinia violacea"
*"Caesalpinia virgata"