Couroupita guianensis

[bubba]

This appears to be a very interesting tree with unusual fruit and flowers. It is native to Guyana but is apparently grown in other tropical climates. As I understand it ,when it's windy it can be very loud as it's cannonballs(fruit) knock into eachother. Who is growing it?

[Eric in Orlando]

There is a nice, big specimen at Fairchild Gardens in Miami. The flowers are real fragrant. It is kind of a tender tree even in Maimi. Someone doanted one here at Leu gardens a few years ago. Itn 1/03 had a night at 27F. The tree was about 5-6ft tall. It was foroze down but came back from the roots. Since then it is about 7-8ft now. In winter it sheds its leaves once it gets near 40F.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

There is a 25'-30' tree in the Deerfield Beach Arboretum.  It was blown over in Wilma but is doing well now after being uprighted almost 2 years ago.  Where some of the roots were broken a few root suckers have appeared.  It goes bare in the dry months and if you get a dry winter, then wet spring and then another stint of dry, it can defoliate more than once a year.  I understand that they are dioecious (male and female flowers on different trees.)  This one is big enough to bloom but has never done so, so I don't know if it is male or female.

Jerry

[fastfeat]

(Eric in Orlando @ Oct. 05 2007,11:05)

QUOTE

There is a nice, big specimen at Fairchild Gardens in Miami. The flowers are real fragrant.

Eric--

Fragrant, yes, like a big, stinking pile of dog crap!!!

I think there is at least one at Fruit and Spice Park in The Redland as well.

I'm not sure about it being dioecious. Seems that I remember seeing fruit on the Fairchild tree (near the root flare), though maybe I was just hoping...

[bubba]

Fastfeat, I guess I have to take it off my list if it smells bad-bad. Does the tree at Fairchild have any cannonballs?

[fastfeat]

Bubba--

I'm supposed to go to TFTS meeting at Fairchild tonight at 7pm, but I'm not sure I'll make it (In Orlando now). If I get down there, I'll check its status.

The smell was only noticeable once I stuck my face near the flowers. No nasty smell around the tree in general, certainly not enough to prevent planting one.

BTW, there may be a tree at Mounts in WPB, I can't recall. Anyone know?

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Upon further investigation, I have discovered that the cannon ball is indeed Monoecious.  either I was misinformed or had an incomplete understanding of what this particular horticulturist told me.  It was thought to be self sterile, but it is not that either.  It has a peculiar flower arrangement and some of its pollen is sterile (used only to attract pollinators) in an effort to broaden the gene pool by encoraging bees to go to different trees.

Jerry

[palmmermaid]

There isn't one at Mounts.  I know the one at Fairchild blooms since I've seen it in bloom.  I also saw them in the botanic garden in Barbados.

I have a small one in my yard.  It has not grown in 3 years but it is still alive.  It has been through 3 hurricanes.  I believe it is called the cannonball tree because the fruits look like cannonballs, not from any noise they make bumping against each other.  I did not notice any offensive odor from either of the ones in bloom I've seen.

I bought mine from Excelsa Gardens in Loxahatchee.

[Eric in Orlando]

I've never really noticed a foul smell around the Fairchild tree. It is musky/sweet but not offensive, at least to me. They must be monoecious as the Fairchild tree is by itself but sets the fruits.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

The flowers are supposed to smell sweet.  The fruit is what stinks.  Excelsa and SouthEast Growers are both listed as carrying it.

Jerry

[PalmsZA]

Hi all

Here is a pic of the tree in question at our local bot garden. I didnt wiff any unpleasent odours at all!

Cheers

Dennis

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

According to what i read, when the fruit is opened, the flesh begins to oxidize, then it stinks.

Jerry

[fastfeat]

I asked Kirsten Llamas to check on the Fairchild tree for me last night, as I didn't make the TFTS meeting (Go Indians!). She told me too that it was the ripening/decaying fruit is what I remember smelling. Their tree indeed sets fruit, but apparently it is hand-pollinated there for better fruit set. She suggested talking to staff there; they may be interested in sharing fruit/seed to those who would do planting and distribution of it. She said she was going to bring a bag last night...

[bubba]

Kitty, Excelsia(sp.) is a fantastic spot, is it not?

[palmmermaid]

It certainly is!  Especially if you can buy wholesale!

I am almost always able to find the rare and unusual there.  They did not have the rain tree (Samanaea samana (sp.)) but that is the only thing I've been unable to find there.

Are you coming to the Palm Sale this weekend in Boynton?  If so, drop by the booth and say hello.

[aussiearoids]

I have smelt the stench of massive piles of rotting fruit on these    poohwhee ! But the majesty of this tree makes up for it . Many plantings around the area , must get one for myself . Pic of flower on young tree at Whyanbeel Arboretum , Peter Sargent planted many seedlings around Cairns .

[fastfeat]

Update from Fairchild! Unfortunately, no fruits on the tree (near the succulent garden) at the present time. Apparently there are a couple of young trees at the Kampong that have flowered but not yet set fruit.

Sounds like it's time to search out a vendor previously mentioned.

[bubba]

Fastfeat, You are a gentleman and a scholar!

[fastfeat]

(bubba @ Oct. 10 2007,09:11)

QUOTE

Fastfeat, You are a gentleman and a scholar!

Yeah, but I still haven't been to Excelsa or SouthEast Growers, even though they're in my own backyard...

[bubba]

Fastfeat, It is because you are always moving so damn fast!

[Eric in Orlando]

Kitty, still looking for a Samanea saman? I have a couple of seedlings, if you wanted one. They are very fast growing.

[amazondk]

In Brazil they call this tree "Abrico de macaco" or Monkey apricot.  I have seen it a lot in Rio de Janeiro and other areas but do not recall seeing it planted around here in Manaus.  But, then again maybe I have not noticed it and it is here.  The tree is a native of Amazonia from what I read.  It is a member of the Lecythidaceae family which is  one of the most common tree groups in the Negro River region where I live.  The brazil nut, Bertholletia excelsa, is a close relative of this tree.  I think I will look around and see if I find any around here.  I was looking at the pictures of the flowers and they look a lot like Brazil nut flowers.  The flowers on the brazil nut are yellow and about an inch across, but they do look a lot alike.

dk

[amazondk]

I was talking to my father in law who is from the Jurua river area of Amazonas some 700 kms from Manaus about this tree.  It is called castanha de macaco (monkey nut) there.  The fruit is commonly used as bait to catch tambaqui.  The tambaqui is a fruit eating fish related to the piranha that is one of the best eating fish here.  They eat fruit that falls into the water and grow up to 80 pounds or so.

dk