Cannonball tree has peculiar and sweet scented flowers. The fruits hang down on the branches up the stem. It is a deciduous tree which belongs to the Lecythidaceae family including Paradise nut and Brazil nut. This tree is inherent of South and Central America. Today it has been cultivated in various places.
| Name | Cannonball tree |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Couroupita guianensis |
| Native | Rainforests of South and Central America |
| Common/English Name | Cannonball tree, Ayauma tree, Sal tree |
| Name in Other Languages | Brazil (Portuguese): Castanha-De-Macaco; Columbia: Maraca; Costa Rica: Bala De Canon; Dutch: Kanonskogelboom; French: Arbre À Boulet De Canon; French Guiana: Kouroupitoumou; German: Kanonenkugelbaum; India:- Bengali: Kaman Gola, Hindu: Tope Gola, Marathi: Shivalingam, Tamil: Naagalingam; Indonesia: Sala; Panama: Granadillo De Las Huacas; Peru: Ayahuma; Portuguese: Castanha De Macaco; Spanish: Coco De Mono; Surinam: Kaupe; Thai: Sala Lankaa; Venezuela: Coco De Mono; Vietnamese: Ðầu Lân |
| Plant Growth Habit | Large, deciduous, tropical tree |
| Soil | Well-drained |
| Plant Size | Height: 35 m |
| Branches | Length: 80 m |
| Leaf | Simple, alternate, oblong to obovate; Length: 10 inches; Width: 4 inches |
| Flowering Season | March to September |
| Flower | Zygomorphic, yellow with red or pink; Across: 5-6 cm; Width: 6 cm |
| Fruit shape & size | Globose, woody, capsule, canonball shaped; Diameter: 12-25 cm |
| Fruit color | Reddish to brown |
| Flesh color | Bluish to green |
| Fruit shell | Hard |
| Fruit Taste | Astringent, earthy and bitter |