found a giant Ear Tree, Enterolobium contortisiliquum

[Eric in Orlando]

Yesterday I was out in Gotha, an old community SW of Orlando. There was an open house at the old Dr. Henry Nehrling estate that is being preserved as a botanic garden. On some property nearby is an old pioneer cemetary from the late 1800s/early 1990s with graves of the German settlers of Gotha. It is on a dry ridge and mostly is native <i>Quercus geminata, Q. laurifolia </i>and <i>Pinus palustris</i> tree canopy. There are some old Butia capitata growing in there and a massive Ear Tree, <i>Enterolobium contortisiliquum</i> towering above everything. Maybe Dr. Nehrling planted it. I collected some seed pods to grow offspring of this old tree.

[palmmermaid]

Wow, Eric! That is a big specimen! Must be very old. Thanks for posting the pictures and good luck with the seeds!

[Peter]

Great tree-thanks Eric.

[Eric in Orlando]

The seeds usually germinate readily so I should get a few to grow from this tree.

[sur4z]

The Pacara Earpod Tree is a flowering tree in the Pea family...or so says Wikipedia. I had never heard of this tree before. The fruit looks like an ear.

[Central Floridave]

I have a friend in Titusville that has this same type of tree and about the same size of the one in the photo. It is a fast growing tree. I'm no expert of course, but it probably isn't 100 years old. It is not a good tree to plant if you want to keep a clean yard. His drops ton of trash and those ears fall everywhere. I wouldn't recommend growing it.

[Eric in Orlando]

Yes, it is a legume (Fabaceae). They are fairly common around Orlando and have naturalized but not invasive.

It is a tree for large yards or parks as they can get immense with a large root system And very fast growing. They can be weak wooded but if trained when young, can deveolp a strong branch system. Its one of my favorite trees.

[Eric in Orlando]

Yes, it is a legume (Fabaceae). They are fairly common around Orlando and have naturalized but not invasive.

It is a tree for large yards or parks as they can get immense with a large root system And very fast growing. They can be weak wooded but if trained when young, can deveolp a strong branch system. Its one of my favorite trees.