Purpleheart

Meet the Nazareno tree (Peltogyne purpurea) (or purpleheart, for our English-speaking friends)— standing tall at a whopping 45 meters! Its flowers are dainty and white, likely drawing in insect admirers for pollination duties, while its fruits come equipped with nifty wings for some aerodynamic wind dispersal action. And let’s not forget its pièce de résistance: the stunning purple heartwood.

Nazareno’s valuable wood has made it a top target for illegal loggers, particularly in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. It’s one of the most poached species in the area, and its population is dwindling due to habitat destruction, deforestation, and trade on both national and international markets. Even in the few humid and seasonal forests where it thrives—stretching from Costa Rica to Colombia—it’s becoming increasingly rare.