This amber gemstone contains 13 beautiful blooming flowers along with a small moth. These flowers had obviously become mired in the Dominican amber resin shortly after blossoming, their delicated features are exquisitely preserved. Identifications of the source of the amber are based on chemical "fingerprints" and on the whole and partial flowers, leaves and fruits found in the amber. Fourteen species of Hymenaea are found today throughout the Caribbean tropical South America. In the Dominican Republic, Hymenaea trees are called algarrobo and the resin is called peruvia. Detritus and wafted plant and tree material are abundant in ambers, but complete nicely preserved botanical inclusions are rare. Complete flowers are rare in amber, most of the flowers found in Dominican amber are flowers of the extinct amber tree the algarrobo. There are 3 or 4 different types of flowers that are often found in Dominican amber. Their classification is based on the reproductive organs, one type is distinguished by 40 to 50 stamens which makes a profuse tangle in amber, this is an Acacia flower. Another type is a short flower with 4 stamens, this is probably the flower of the Dominican "amber tree" Hymenaea protera, whose nearest living relative is the "algarrobo" in the same genus found mostly in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic. Flowers from the following families have been identified in Dominican amber, Bombacaceaa (balsa and baobab family) Euphorbiaceae (euphorbs - cassava and poinsettia), Hippocrataceae, Leguminosae (the pea family), Meliaceae (mahogany family), Myristicaceae (nutmeg family) and Thymeliaceae.

This amber specimen is offered here for $325.00 complete satisfaction guaranteed. This specimen has been examined by paleoentomologists at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. To view photos and videos of our some of our amber excavations in the blue amber mines in mountains of the Dominican Republic and to see a small java applet of the amber mines click here - (opens in a new browser window). Our amber comes direct from the Dominican Republic amber mines east of the world famous La Toca amber mine. These specimens do not go through any middle men, we acquire these specimens from the miners and mine owners directly at the amber mines. This specimen was obtained in during our excavations in early October of 2002.