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Guyana Chestnut Pachira aquatica These
huge, flowering trees are members of the Bombax Family. They are naturally
found along estuaries and lakeshores in the tropical rainforests of Mexico,
Central and South America. In their native terrain, they can achieve
heights of 100 feet or more, growing quickly in wet weather and developing thick
buttresses to support themselves. Generally, in landscaping, they
reach 30 feet or so, with moderate watering. Plant one next to your lake
and watch it expand into a rocketship, slowly launching itself toward the
stars.
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Bare for a short time in the dry season, the leaves
appear with spring. They are palmately compound, the most highly
evolved leaves in the New World Tropics.
Note chlorophyll-containing green branches, a strategy
for fast growth.
The flower is a massive contraption, refreshingly fragrant,
especially at night. It consists of five long petals
surrounding a bundle of pink stamens. |
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The challenge of the flower. Hundreds of pollen
grains wait at the tips of dozens of filaments, surrounding the lone
pistil, at the bottom of which awaits the female gamete. |
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The men are all pushing and shoving, saying things like:
"Hey, back off, I saw her first."
"Get outta here. I've known her since kindergarten." |
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The mademoiselle, she pretends not to notice all of the
attention she is getting. |
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The act has been completed. The filaments wither.
The pistil will fall off and the fruit will develop. |
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Fruit is a reddish-brown pod, suitable for playing
rugby. When you are done, the seeds may be eaten either raw or
cooked.
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In Tropical America, there are arboreal communities that
never set foot on the earth living in the canopies of these original
skyscrapers. |
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At left, prop roots are the start of the buttresses that
will develop later. |
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At right, a line of Pachiras in 45-gal.
pots. Planted height is 12+ feet. |
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