cannon ball tree
Botanical line drawing of Couroupita guianensis. Drawing by B. Angell.
Botanical line drawing of Couroupita guianensis. Drawing by B. Angell.
Botanical line drawing of Couroupita guianensis by B. Angell. Fig. 36 from Flora Neotropica Monograph. Part II. A-B (Stahel 100), C-I (redrawn with permission from Fl. Neotropica Monograph 21: figs, 9, 12). A. Habit. B. Cauliflorous inflorescence. C. Medial section of androecium, note that all of the hood appendages bear antherodes. D. Cross-section of ovary, note the six locules which are unique to this genus in the Lecythidaceae. E. Medial section of ovary,. The ovules run the length of the locule and are attached to the bilamellar placentae in each locule. F. Indehiscent fruit. G. Medial fruit, note the lenticular-saped seeds embedded in the pulp. H. Cross-section of fruit, note the six wedge-shaped segments. I Apex of seedling with two foliaceous cotyledons.
Seeds of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by X. Cornejo.
Seeds of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by X. Cornejo.
Seeds of Couroupita guianensis based on X. Cornejo & Grochowski 8030 from Jatun Sacha, Napo, Ecuador.
Bark of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Bark of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Bark and slash of Couroupita guianensis based on unvouchered tree at Arangu, Ecuador.
Tree of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by R. Foster.
Tree of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by R. Foster.
Tree of Couroupita guianensis from Ecuador. Photo ID. Code rf10 from the Neotropical Live Plant Photos, used wiith permission from R. Foster. The "branches" projecting from the trunk are inflorescences.
Cut fruit of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by J. Janovec.
Cut fruit of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by J. Janovec.
Cut fruit of Couroupita guianensis showing pulp that has oxidized bluish-green. This image also shows the woody exocarp; the white, soft mesocarp; and the woody endocarp. From a native tree in Peru photographed by J. Janovec.
Old inflorescences raches of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Old inflorescences raches of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Leaves at ends of old inlforescences of Couroupita guianensis based on an unvouchered cultivated tree at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Coral Gables, Florida. As the tree ages the older inflorescences become very thick, almost branch-like, and sprout leaves from their ends.
Seedling of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Seedling of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Cultivated seedling of Couroupita guianensis, planted 19 Nov 1974; photographed 5 Dec 1974. The cotyledons are two, leaf-like, convoluted, and opposite to one another. Based on Mori collection number 3263. Panama.
Flowers and fruits of the cannon ball tree. Photo of tree in flower by A. Vasco-Gutierrez and in fruit by L. E. Gámez.
Flowers and fruits of the cannon ball tree. Photo of tree in flower by A. Vasco-Gutierrez and in fruit by L. E. Gámez.
Tree of Couroupita guianensis with cauline inflorescences and a few infructescences based on a non-vouchered tree cultived at the botanical garden in Caracas, Venezuela. Tree of Couroupita guianensis with mostly fruits based an unvouchered photo by L. E. Gámez Alvarez in Venezuela.
Flower of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Flower of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Flower spread open of Couroupita guianensis based on unvouchered tree at the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, Coral Gables, Florida. Note inferior ovary, staminal ring, stigma in hole in middle of staminal ring, appendage-free ligule, and hood with staminodes.
Bract and brateoles of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
Bract and brateoles of Couroupita guianensis. Photo by S. A. Mori.
In Couroupita guianensis, the bract is located at the base of the pedicel and the bracteoles are inserted just below the articulation of the pedicel/hypanthium continuum. Based on an unvouchered tree growing in the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden.