Abarema is a neotropical genus in the family Fabaceae. It is native to Brazil, Cuba, and Venezuela.[1] Most of the species can be found in the Amazon Basin and the Guyana Highlands. They have a deep-green fernlike foliage, with bipinnately compound leaves.
Taxonomy
This genus has been proven to be polyphyletic under its previous circumscription. As a result of the genetic evidence, the genera Jupunba and Punjuba were separated from Abarema.[2]
Species
Following the 1996 revision, there are currently about 45 species. In older works, the entire genus is usually included within Pithecellobium.[3]
Barneby, R.C. & Grimes, J.W. (1996): Silk Tree, Guanacaste, Monkey's Earring: A generic system for the synandrous Mimosaceae of the Americas. Part I. Abarema, Albizia, and Allies. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden74(1): 1–292. ISBN0-89327-395-3
International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS) (2005): Genus Abarema. Version 10.01, November 2005. Retrieved 2008-MAR-31.