| Cannonball tree Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Cannonball tree |
| Scientific Name: | Couroupita guianensis |
| Origin | Rainforests of South and Central America |
| Colors | Reddish to brown (Fruit) |
| Shapes | Globose, woody, capsule, canonball shaped; Diameter: 12-25 cm (Fruit) |
| Flesh colors | Bluish to green |
| Taste | Astringent, earthy and bitter |
| More facts about Cannonball tree | |
Plant
Cannonball is a large, deciduous and tropical tree which performs well in well-drained soils and grows upto 35 m high. It has simple, alternate arranged, oblong to obovate leaves which is about 10 inches long and 4 inches wide. The flowers are zygomorphic, yellow with red or pink measuring 5-6 cm across and 6 cm wide. The woody, capsule fruits are globose, canonball shaped having 12-25 cm as a diameter. Each fruit contains 200 to 300 seeds. The fruit has hard shell and bluish to green flesh.
Canonball-tree-closeup-flowers
Flower buds of Canonball tree
Fruits-of-Canonball-tree
Half-cut-Canonball-tree
Leaves-of-Canonball-tree
Shell-of-Canonball-tree
Traditional uses
- The plant extract is used to treat stomach aches and colds.
- The juice extracted from the leaves is used to treat skin diseases.
- In South America, the Shamans used tree parts to treat malaria.
- The pulp is used to disinfect wounds.
- Young leaves are used to provide relief from toothache.
- The bark is used to cure colds.
- The extracts of the tree parts is used to cure pain, hypertension, tumors and inflammation.
- The fruit pulp is rubbed on sick dogs to cure them of mange.
- The juice extracted from leaves is used to cure skin ailments.
- In Ayurveda, the juice of the fruit is used as expectorant for bronchitis and chronic cough.
Precautions
- Unripe fruit is harmful and might cause an allergic reaction.
- One who intake the unripe fruits may experience tingling and burning sensation on the lips and tongue.
Other Facts
- The flowers have good smell which could be used to add scent in cosmetics and perfumes.
- Fruits have hard shells which are used as utensils or containers.
- The pulp is used to feed muscovy ducks, pigs, turkeys and chickens.
- The wood of the tree is used to manufacture boxes, toys, rackets, parquet blocks, light artefacts and casting moulds.
- In India, Cannonball tree is regarded as a sacred tree by Hindus.
- According to the Buddhist scriptures, it is said that Lord Buddha was born on the shade of Sala Tree.
- The extracts of Cannonball tree possess antibacterial properties which is effective against E. coli, Staphyloccous and Bacillus. Fruit extracts also possess antimicrobial activity.
- The flowers are considered as a symbol of wealth in Asia.
References:
http://www.st-stanislaus-gy.com/History/Botanical-Wonders-of-Guyana.pdf
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CannonBallTree.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Couroupita_guianensis
http://urpjournals.com/tocjnls/24_13v3i4_4.pdf
http://theindianvegan.blogspot.com/2012/10/all-about-cannonball-fruit.html
