Pachira aquatica

Pachira aquatica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Pachira
Species:
P. aquatica
Binomial name
Pachira aquatica
Synonyms

Carolinea macrocarpa
Bombax macrocarpum
Pachira macrocarpa

Pachira aquatica is a tropical wetland tree in the mallow family Malvaceae, native to Central and South America where it grows in swamps. It is known by its common names Malabar chestnut, French peanut, Guiana chestnut, Provision tree, Saba nut, Monguba (Brazil), Pumpo (Guatemala) and is commercially sold under the names Money tree and Money plant. This tree is sometimes sold with a braided trunk and is commonly grown as a houseplant, although more commonly what is sold as a "Pachira aquatica" houseplant is in fact a similar species, P. glabra.[2]

The genus name is derived from a language spoken in Guyana.[3] The species name is Latin for "aquatic". It is classified in the subfamily Bombacoideae of the family Malvaceae. Previously it was assigned to Bombacaceae.[4][5] The name "money tree" is believed to refer to a story of its origin, in which a poor man prayed for money, found this "odd" plant, took it home as an omen, and made money selling plants grown from its seeds.[6]

  1. ^ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI); IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Pachira aquatica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T146783390A146783392. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146783390A146783392.en. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Pachira aquatica" Hawaiian Tropical Plants Nursery
  3. ^ Helmut Genaust (1983): Etymologisches Wörterbuch der botanischen Pflanzennamen, 2. Auflage. Birkhäuser Verlag – ISBN 3-7643-1399-4
  4. ^ IABIN Archived 2012-07-01 at archive.today
  5. ^ John H. Wiersema. "GRIN". Ars-grin.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2012-01-27.
  6. ^ "Money Tree Bonsai, Wedding Favors, Corporate Gifts, Plant Gifts". Natureperfect.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-15. Retrieved 2012-01-27.