Hardwood · Medicinal
Guanacaste
Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb.
FamilyFabaceae
EspañolGuanacaste
AlsoEar tree, Earpod tree, Elephant ear
A huge, fast-growing deciduous legume tree with a short, thick trunk and an immensely wide, spreading crown of feathery, twice-divided leaves. It sheds its leaves in the dry season and flowers in spring as new leaves emerge, then drops shiny dark brown seed pods curled into the shape of a human ear. It is the national tree of the province it is named for and a familiar shade tree of pastures and coffee farms.
Sourced · see Record tab Least Concern · IUCN
Worth knowingThe genus name Enterolobium refers to the seed pods' resemblance to curled intestines, while the English name 'ear tree' comes from their likeness to a human ear. A single tree can produce 1,000–3,000 seeds a year.
2on the estate
0carrying a tag
2sponsored
| Tag | Garden area | Zone | Planted | Status | Sponsored | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Entrance Driveway | A | 1 June 2015 | Planted | Bri-ann L., USA | |
| — | House Site | D | 1 June 2015 | Planted | Bri-ann L., USA |
2 of these have no tag yet; they will be numbered when the garden team re-tags the estate.