June - July 2003 / Photography & Text by Kathryn K. de Tanzi / Please visit www.hjimenez.org for more info. on the Tropical Dendrology Course.

We drove across lush, green mountains to our final location: the wet forests of the Caribbean lowlands. (Please double click on each picture to enlarge it OR click "slide show" and use the arrows)

A sky-scraping BOMBACACEAE, Ceiba pentandra BIGNONIACEAE, Tabebuia cf. rosea MELIACEAE, Swietenia macrophylla "Mahogany" MELIACEAE, Swietenia macrophylla, (notice bromeliad-type terminal bud) MELIACEAE, Swietenia macrophylla "Mahogany" RUBIACEAE (simple, opposite leaves with connate intrapetiolar stipules) RUBIACEAE, Genipa americana RUBIACEAE, Genipa americana RUBIACEAE, Calycophyllum candidssimum MYRTACEAE, Psidium guajaba CAESALPINIACEAE, Delonix regia MORACEAE, Ficus sp. We daringly crossed a river on two narrow, but stable planks. ANACARDIACEAE, Anacardium excelsum, a large tree without buttresses. ANACARDIACEAE, Anacardium excelsum SAPOTACEAE, Manilkara chicle SAPOTACEAE, manilkara chicle Our route provided magnificent views of the Lake Arenal area. Dr. Jiménez pointed out territory through which we would be traveling. The partially cloud-covered Arenal Volcano is in the distance. Typical Costa Rican marimba music was a delightful accompaniment to our lunch. Fresh drinks made of colorful local fruits were always welcomed by our group. We will never forget the delicious Costa Rican meals. BORAGINACEAE, Cordia alliodora / Seeds are dispersed naturally and trees grow... BOMBACACEAE, Ochroma pyramidale "Balsa" A well-trodden path leads us into a sanctuary of white tree trunks. RUBIACEAE, cf. Palicourea sp. VERBENACEAE, Lantana camara MELASTOMATACEAE MALPIGHIACEAE, Byrsonima crassifolia MALVACEAE, Hibiscus sp. ACANTHACEAE, Megaskepasma erythrolochlamys MIMOSACEAE, Pentaclethra macroloba Fruit of a CLUSIACEA species Night falls and we await one more day in the magnificent wet forest.