Cannonball tree

Couroupita guianensis

The cannonball tree sheds its leaves several times a year, but produces new ones almost immediately afterwards. Its fruits burst open when they hit the ground and give off a smell that is unpleasant to humans.

The tree grows to a height of up to 35 metres and is native to tropical South America, where it favours habitats along riverbanks and periodically flooded lowlands. Today, the cannonball tree is grown as an ornamental tree in many tropical regions.

The enormous fruits have a diameter of up to 24 centimetres and have a woody shell. The seeds, of which there are up to 100, are about one centimetre long and brown.

Distribution

tropical South America

Number of related species

The genus Couroupita comprises just three species.

Use

an ornamental tree in parks; timber for crates and interior fittings; in Brazil, the fruit pulp is used in drinks and as animal feed

Distribution

tropical South America

Number of related species

The genus Couroupita comprises just three species.

Use

an ornamental tree in parks; timber for crates and interior fittings; in Brazil, the fruit pulp is used in drinks and as animal feed

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