This Dominican Amber gemstone displays a beautiful and wonderfully preserved complete Hymenaea protera petal from the algarrobo flower. The exquisite fidelity of the flower petal's preservation is so complete that one can easily see the clearly visible small dark resin glands that stand out against the light brown tissues of the rest of the flower petal. This petal probably wafted into soft resin soon after blooming. This petal is from the algarrobo flower, the algarrobo tree was the source of the Dominican and Mexican amber. Algarrobo petals, stamens, leaves, flowers buds and developing fruits are well documented in Dominican amber. The algarrobo tree that produced the Dominican and Mexican amber is extinct but it's relatives are still flourishing in the tropics today. Before Hymenaea protera was described, scientists had discovered that the algarrobo tree is more closely related to the an African member of the living species in the genus Hymenaea verrucosa, than to any other New World species. Identifications of the source of the ambers are based on chemical "fingerprints" and on the whole and partial flowers, leaves and fruits found in the ambers. 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.

This specimen is offered here for $45.00 no reserve, complete satisfaction guaranteed. Money orders, cashier's checks, personal checks, paypal, billpoint and escrow welcomed. Our amber comes direct from the Dominican Republic amber mines east of the world famous La Toca amber mine. This specimen was obtained during our last explorations of the Dominican amber mines in mid July of 2001. Our specimens do not go through any middle men, we acquire them from the miners and mine owners directly at the amber mines, if you are not completely satisfied please return them to us within 7 days for a complete refund. Buyer pays $3.50 for shipping and insurance, if shipment is outside the USA, shipping and insurance will be based on the destination country. Good Luck!