Role in Nature:
Enterolobium cyclocarpum is prized for its wide canopy, offering shade in pastures, coffee plantations, and urban areas. Its nutritious seed pods serve as valuable livestock feed, especially in dry seasons. As a legume, it also fixes atmospheric nitrogen, enhancing soil fertility and supporting plant growth.
Cultural Significance:
Enterolobium cyclocarpum has been fundamental to the development of rural cultures in Central America since pre-Columbian times. E. cyclocarpum is the national tree of Costa Rica, where it is prized for the shade it provides from the intense tropical sun. The seeds of Enterolobium cyclocarpum are sometimes extracted from the pods, ground into flour and eaten.
Medical Significance:
- In Mexican folk medicine, the sap of Enterolobium cyclocarpum is believed to help treat influenza and bronchitis.
- The astringent properties of the tree’s green fruit are used to treat diarrhea.
- Bark extracts are traditionally used against colds and bronchitis.
- The wood and bark contain tannins, which have astringent properties, but the specific compounds and effective doses remain unclear.
Did You Know?
The most distinctive feature of Enterolobiumcyclocarpum
is its large, curled seed pods that resemble human or
monkey ears, giving rise to many of its common names.
The pods can grow up to 75 cm long and are dark brown
when mature, splitting open to release numerous winged
seeds. Enterolobium cyclocarpum has a unique
characteristic of natural populations exhibiting variation in
flower color, ranging from white to bright yellow. This
color variation within the same species is relatively
uncommon.
Role in Nature:
Enterolobium cyclocarpum is prized for its wide canopy, offering shade in pastures, coffee plantations, and urban areas. Its nutritious seed pods serve as valuable livestock feed, especially in dry seasons. As a legume, it also fixes atmospheric nitrogen, enhancing soil fertility and supporting plant growth.
Cultural Significance:
Cultural
Significance:
Enterolobium cyclocarpum has been fundamental to the development of rural cultures in Central America since pre-Columbian times. E. cyclocarpum is the national tree of Costa Rica, where it is prized for the shade it provides from the intense tropical sun. The seeds of Enterolobium cyclocarpum are sometimes extracted from the pods, ground into flour and eaten.
Medical Significance:
Medical
Significance:
- In Mexican folk medicine, the sap of Enterolobium cyclocarpum is believed to help treat influenza and bronchitis.
- The astringent properties of the tree’s green fruit are used to treat diarrhea.
- Bark extracts are traditionally used against colds and bronchitis.
- The wood and bark contain tannins, which have astringent properties, but the specific compounds and effective doses remain unclear.
Did You Know?
The most distinctive feature of Enterolobiumcyclocarpum
is its large, curled seed pods that resemble human or
monkey ears, giving rise to many of its common names.
The pods can grow up to 75 cm long and are dark brown
when mature, splitting open to release numerous winged
seeds. Enterolobium cyclocarpum has a unique
characteristic of natural populations exhibiting variation in
flower color, ranging from white to bright yellow. This
color variation within the same species is relatively
uncommon.