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Accession Data:

Couroupita guianensis Aubl.

  • Common Name: Cannon-ball Tree
  • Family: Lecythidaceae Poit.

  • Country of Origin: C. & S. Trop. America

  • Uses: Parts used Juice, leaves, fruit.

    Edible- Fruits are edible, but only occasionally eaten because of the unpleasant odor of the white flesh.

    Traditional Folk Medicine- Used to treat colds and stomach aches. Juice from leaves used for skin diseases. Shamans of South America used tree parts for malaria. Fruit pulp used to disinfect wounds. Young leaves used for toothache.

    Religious / Ritual: (1) Hindus consider it a sacred tree as the petals of the flowers resemble the sacred snake, Naga, a cobra protecting a Shiva Lingam with its hood. (2) In some parts of India, the tree is worshipped by childless couples.

    Fragrance: Fragrant flowers can be used to scent perfumes and cosmetics.

    Wood: (1) Hard shells of the fruit sometimes used as containers and utensils. (2) Wood used for making incense. 4

    • IMPORTANT NOTE: Plant Uses are for informational purposes only. EEB Greenhouses assume no responsibility for adverse effects from the use of any plants referred to on this site. Always seek advice from a professional before using any plant medicinally.
  • USDA Zone: 9b-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 200300247
  • Source: Renate Bucher - Seed
  • Accession Date: 07-08-2003
  • Bench: 1312 - NEOA: Ground Bed 2 NE
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 1 confirmed on 10-08-2024
  • Restrictions:

    Classification:

    • Division: Magnoliophyta
    • Class: Magnoliopsida
    • SubClass: asterids
    • Order: Ericales
    • SubOrder:
    • Family: Lecythidaceae
    • SubFamily: Lecythidoideae
    • Tribe:
    • SubTribe:

    Flowering Data:

    This accession has been observed in bloom on:
    YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
    2024
    2023
    2022
    2021
    2020
    2019
    2018
    2017
    2016
    2015
    2014
    2013
    2012

    References (internal):

    • Medicinal Plants
    • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Costa Rica / Honduras / Panama / French Guiana / Guyana / Suriname / Venezuela / Bolivia / Colombia / Ecuador / Peru / Brazil North

    References (external):

    1. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 8 June 2015.
    2. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 8 June 2015.
    3. Couroupita guianensis at Wikipedia. Accessed 8 June 2015.
    4. Cannon Ball Tree at Stuart Exchange. Accessed 8 June 2015.
    5. Image #00 (cropped) & #01 (original) by Aruna at Malayalam Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0]. Last accessed Friday, 14 December, 2018.

    data regenerated on Tue, 08 Oct 2024 13:07:33 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

    Images:

    Couroupita guianensis

    Additional images for this accession:

    Click on thumbnails to enlarge

    Current Accessions in the Lecythidaceae

    Subfamily Barringtonioideae

    • Barringtonia racemosa

    Subfamily Lecythidoideae

    • Couroupita guianensis

    Subfamily Napoleonaeoideae

    • Napoleonaea beninensis
    W/C = Wild Collected
    = indicates flowering in past 14 days
    = images available for this accession
    = map available for this accession
    = accession added within past 90 days
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