Elephant Ear Tree/Guanacaste Tree
(Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Fabaceae)
(Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Fabaceae)
Distribution:
This species can be found from Mexico to northern South America and the Antilles. It is very noticeable in the canopies of deciduous/semi-deciduous lowland forests in Costa Rica. Especially in the Guanacaste region (named after the tree), the species also dominates pastures and grasslands of the Pacific slope of Panama and Costa Rica. Characteristics: The elephant tree has a broad crown, sometimes being wider than tall. The leaflets of the tree are narrow, oblong, and feathery. With vertical furrows, the bark is gray and somewhat smooth. The species flowers from January to May. They are basically small white balls of stamens, which are visited by small moths and beetles. |
Habitat:
Canopy, forest, grassland, pasture, slope, soil, tropical
Reproduction:
The seeds of the tree are contained in dark red-brown indehiscent ear-shaped pods. These pods take one year to mature, growing to approximately 12 cm in diameter. They hold about 14 seeds, each from 1.5 to 2cm long. The seeds are rich in protein and starches, and also contain insecticidal amino acid, which in Costa Rica prove effective against bruchid beetles and other insects which predate on the seeds. Herbivory or predation of green seeds is preventing by the saponins in the seeds.
Canopy, forest, grassland, pasture, slope, soil, tropical
Reproduction:
The seeds of the tree are contained in dark red-brown indehiscent ear-shaped pods. These pods take one year to mature, growing to approximately 12 cm in diameter. They hold about 14 seeds, each from 1.5 to 2cm long. The seeds are rich in protein and starches, and also contain insecticidal amino acid, which in Costa Rica prove effective against bruchid beetles and other insects which predate on the seeds. Herbivory or predation of green seeds is preventing by the saponins in the seeds.