Description: A medium-sized, alien tree. Trunk is straight, crown wide, round, and typically reaching near the ground. Leaves are twice compound -- divided into leaflets, each of which is divided again into 'subleaflets'. The overall leaf is thus fern-like. Leaflets are tiny and pointed. The leaves are opposite, leaflets are opposite, and subleaflets are opposite.

Reproduction: Flowers are large and deep purple, produced when trees are leafless during the dry season. Fruits are woody capsules.

Distribution: Generally found only in yards, widely planted, especially numerous in Gamboa. Seldom seen in forest or even at forest edge, although two of our forest plots at Cocoli across from Panama City have Jacaranda caucana.

Similar Species: The fine, fern-like doubly-compound leaves, combined with opposite leaves (meaning each whole leaf structure is opposite another leaf structure), distinguish this species from all others except the native LK jac1co Jacaranda copaia. LK2 The latter has somewhat larger leaflets, though, and is not seen in yards (often at the forest edge, though). There are a number of legumes with doubly compound leaves that grow in towns, native and alien, but all have alternate leaves.

Uses: Planted for the showy purple flowers.

Descripción: Árbol de 5 a 20 m de alto. Copa redondeada y con follaje disperso. Tronco ramificado a baja altura, a veces ligeramente acanalado. Corteza exterior gris. Hojas bipinnadas y opuestas. Con 5-15 pares de pinnas. Folíolos de 1-3 x 0.5-1.5 cm, elípticos, con ápice agudo y bordes enteros. Pecíolo de 3-5 cm de largo y pulvinado en la base. Flores campanuladas y de color azul. Frutos en cápsulas ovaladas y aplanadas, de 5-10 cm de largo, verdes y con bordes ondulados y lenticelas blancas en el exterior, tornándose negros y dehiscentes al madurar. Semillas aladas y pequeñas.

Datos Ecológicos: La especie crece a bajas elevaciones, en bosques secos o húmedos. En Panamá se encuentra en las provincias de Chiriquí, Darién y Panamá. Deja caer sus hojas durante la estación seca, pero las repone a inicios de la estación lluviosa. Florece y fructifica de febrero a octubre.

Especies Parecidas: A menudo se confunde con LK jac1co Jacaranda copaia LK2 , pero J. copaia es un árbol de mayor tamaño y los frutos no tienen los bordes ondulados.

Usos: Se utiliza como planta ornamental en parques y avenidas de Panamá.