The tree grows to a height of up to 35 metres and is native to tropical South America, where it favours habitats along riverbanks and periodically flooded lowlands. Today, the cannonball tree is grown as an ornamental tree in many tropical regions.
The enormous fruits have a diameter of up to 24 centimetres and have a woody shell. The seeds, of which there are up to 100, are about one centimetre long and brown.
Distribution
tropical South America
Number of related species
The genus Couroupita comprises just three species.
Use
an ornamental tree in parks; timber for crates and interior fittings; in Brazil, the fruit pulp is used in drinks and as animal feed
