Couroupita guianensis

Couroupita guianensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Lecythidaceae
Genus: Couroupita
Species:
C. guianensis
Binomial name
Couroupita guianensis
Synonyms[2]
  • Couratari pedicellaris Rizzini
  • Couroupita acreensis R.Knuth
  • Couroupita antillana Miers
  • Couroupita froesii R.Knuth
  • Couroupita guianensis var. surinamensis (Mart. ex Berg) Eyma
  • Couroupita idolica Dwyer
  • Couroupita membranacea Miers
  • Couroupita peruviana O.Berg
  • Couroupita saintcroixiana R.Knuth
  • Couroupita surinamensis Mart. ex O.Berg
  • Couroupita venezuelensis R.Knuth
  • Lecythis bracteata Willd.
  • Pekea couroupita Juss. ex DC.

Couroupita guianensis, known by a variety of common names including cannonball tree,[3] is a deciduous tree in the flowering plant family Lecythidaceae. It is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America,[1] and it is cultivated in many other tropical areas throughout the world because of its fragrant flowers and large fruits, which are brownish grey.[4] There are potential medicinal uses for many parts of Couroupita guianensis, and the tree has cultural and religious significance in South and Southeast Asia.[5] In Sri Lanka and India, the cannonball tree has been widely misidentified as the Sal tree (Shorea robusta), after its introduction to the island by the British in 1881, and has been included as a common item in Buddhist temples as a result.[6]

  1. ^ a b Mitré, M. (1998). "Couroupita guianensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T33969A9825349. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T33969A9825349.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Couroupita guianensis Aubl". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  3. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Cannon-ball Tree" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 189.
  4. ^ "Couroupita guianensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference ALDHABI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference MONGABAY was invoked but never defined (see the help page).