This Caribbean tree is the West Indian Satinwood, Zanthoxylum flavum.

It has compound leaves made up of several glossy leaflets. When crushed, the leaves may release a citrus-like aroma because the tree belongs to the same plant family as oranges and lemons.

Its small, pale flowers appear in clusters and are followed by rounded fruits. As the fruits mature, they split open to reveal dark, shiny seeds that may remain attached for a time.

The tree is native to Florida, Bermuda, and the West Indies, where it grows naturally in dry forests and on limestone soils.

Its common name comes from its beautiful yellow to golden-brown heartwood. The wood has a smooth, lustrous finish resembling satin and was once highly prized for fine furniture, cabinetry, decorative inlay, and walking sticks.

Heavy harvesting for that valuable timber greatly reduced wild populations in many parts of its range. The West Indian Satinwood is now rare and protected in some places.

It may appear modest beside more colorful tropical trees, but its fragrant foliage, valuable wood, and history of overexploitation make it an important Caribbean conservation species.