Pachira aquatica - Revision history

Raffi at 22:02, 11 December 2009

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Raffi at 15:24, 23 October 2009

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Raffi at 07:00, 27 March 2007

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Pachira aquatica''
| image = Pachira aquatica2.jpg
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malvales]]
| familia = [[Bombacaceae]]
| genus = ''Pachira''
| species = '''''P. aquatica'''''
| binomial = ''Pachira aquatica''
| binomial_authority = [[Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet|Aublet]]
}}

'''''Pachira aquatica''''' (synonyms: ''Pachira macrocarpa'', ''Bombax macrocarpum'', ''Carolinea macrocarpa'', ''Bombax glabrum'') is a tropical wetland tree which is known by the common names '''[[Malabar]] [[chestnut]]''', '''[[Guiana]] chestnut''', '''provision tree''', and '''saba nut'''. It is native to [[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]], where it grows in swamps.

==Characteristics==
''Pachira aquatica'' can grow up to 18 [[meter]]s in height in the wild. It has shiny green [[palmate]] leaves and smooth green [[bark]]. Its showy flowers have long, narrow [[petal]]s that open like a banana peel to reveal hairlike yellowish orange [[stamen]]s. The tree is cultivated for its edible [[nut]]s which grow in a very large, woody pod. The nuts are light brown, striped with white. They are said to taste like [[peanut]]s, and can be eaten raw or cooked or ground into a flour to make bread. The leaves and flowers are also edible.

The tree grows well as a tropical [[ornamental plant|ornamental]] in moist, frost-free areas, and can be started from seed or cutting.

==Role in East Asian culture==
In [[East Asia]], ''Pachira aquatica'' ({{zh-cpl|c=馬拉巴栗|p=''Mǎlābā lì''|l=Malabar chestnut}}) is often referred to as the "'''money tree'''" (發財樹 ''fācái shù''). The tree had long been popular as an [[ornamental plant|ornamental]] in [[Japan]]. In 1986, a [[Taiwan]]ese [[truck driver]] first cultivated five small trees in a single [[flowerpot]] with their [[trunk (botany)|trunk]]s [[braid]]ed. The popularity of these ornamentals took off in Japan and later much of the rest of East Asia. They are [[symbolism|symbolically]] associated with good financial fortune and are typically seen in [[business]]es, sometimes with red ribbons or other auspicious ornamentation attached. The trees play an important role in Taiwan's agricultural export economy with exports of [[New Taiwan dollar|NT$]]250 million ([[United States dollar|US$]]7 million) in 2005. <ref><small>[http://english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?recordid=92685 "Fancy take on money trees puts Taiwan on the map."] ''Taiwan Headlines'' reprint from ''[[Liberty Times]]''. [[23 March]] 2006. Accessed [[10 February]] 2007.</small></ref>

==Notes==
<references />

==References==
* [http://english.www.gov.tw//TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?categid=11&recordid=91217 "Class effort gives Taiwan world leadership in 'money tree' exports."] ''Taiwan Headlines'' reprint from ''[[United Daily News]]''. [[9 February]] 2006. Accessed [[10 February]] 2007.
* [http://english.www.gov.tw/TaiwanHeadlines/index.jsp?recordid=92685 "Fancy take on money trees puts Taiwan on the map."] ''Taiwan Headlines'' reprint from ''[[Liberty Times]]''. [[23 March]] 2006. Accessed [[10 February]] 2007.
* [http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/malabar.html "Malabar Chestnut"] at California Rare Fruit Growers Fruit Facts
* [http://www.floridata.com/ref/p/pach_aqu.cfm "''Pachira aquatica''"] at FloriData
* Van Wyk, Ben-Erik (2005). ''Food Plants of the World''. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press, Inc. ISBN 0-88192-743-0

==See also==
*[[Jade plant]], also referred to as "money tree"

[[Category:Bombacaceae]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]
[[Category:Trees of Central America]]
[[Category:Trees of South America]]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 |image_width=200
 |image_caption=Typical woven trunked specimen sold as house plant
 }}
 Growth Habit: The Malabar chestnut is a very showy evergreen tree with greenish bark that can grow to 60 ft. in the tropics. In California the growth is more like 10 to 15 ft. tall with a spread of 8 to 10 feet.
@@ Line 36: / Line 33: @@
 :''More information about this species can be found on the [[Pachira|genus page]].''
 ==Cultivation==

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |lifespan=perennial
 |exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
 |features=evergreen, edible, fruit
 |Temp Metric=°F

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |lifespan=perennial
 |exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
 |features=evergreen, edible, fruit
 |Temp Metric=°F

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
+{{SPlantbox
-| name = ''Pachira aquatica''
+|familia=Bombacaceae
-| common_names = Malabar Chestnut, Guiana Chestnut, Guyana Chestnut, Provision tree, Saba Nut
+|genus=Pachira
-| growth_habit = evergreen tree
+|species=aquatica
-| high = ?m (10-60 ft)
+|common_name=Money Tree, Malabar Chestnut, Guiana Chestnut, Provision tree, Saba Nut
-| wide =     <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
+|habit=tree
-| origin = S Mexico to Brazil
+|Min ht metric=cm
-| poisonous =     <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
+|Max ht box=60
-| lifespan = perennial
+|Max ht metric=ft
-| exposure =     <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
+|origin=S Mexico to Brazil
-| water =     <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
+|lifespan=perennial
-| features =     <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
+|exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
-| hardiness =     <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
+|water=frequent, regular, infrequent
-| bloom =     <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
+|features=evergreen, edible, fruit
-| usda_zones = 9b-11
+|Temp Metric=°F
-| sunset_zones =     <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
+|min_zone=9
-| color = IndianRed
+|max_zone=11
-| image = Pachira aquatica2.jpg
+|image=Pachira aquatica2.jpg
-| image_width = 180px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
+|image_width=200
-| image_caption =     <!--- eg. Cultivated freesias -->
+|image_caption=Typical woven trunked specimen sold as house plant
 }}
 {{Inc|
@@ Line 41: / Line 32: @@
 Adaption: Tropical estuaries are the native habitat of the Malabar chestnut, so it is perhaps best suited to Hawaii and southern Florida. Even so, the plant also grows well in the milder parts of southern California. Several handsome specimens are thriving in the Quail Gardens collection near Encinitas, Calif., which has more cold and wind than many home gardens. The plant will tolerate brief exposure to temperatures as low as 28° F, but may drop some or most of its leaves. Malabar chestnuts make attractive potted plants and add an attractive tropical note to patios and sun rooms.
 :''More information about this species can be found on the [[Pachira|genus page]].''
 ==Cultivation==
 Location: A frost-free location with some protection from hot, drying winds is the best choice for the plant. It will take full sun to partial shade. Overall, the tree is a handsome landscape addition.
@@ Line 83: / Line 59: @@
 ==Gallery==
 <gallery>
-Image:Upload.png| photo 1
+File:Pachira aquatica (fruit).jpg|Fruit
-Image:Upload.png| photo 2
+Image:Pachira aquatica.jpg
-Image:Upload.png| photo 3
+Image:Pachira aquatica1.jpg
 </gallery>
@@ Line 100: / Line 75: @@
 *{{wplink}}
-[[Category:Categorize]]
+__NOTOC__

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Inc|
+__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
 | name = ''Pachira aquatica''
 | common_names = Malabar Chestnut, Guiana Chestnut, Guyana Chestnut, Provision tree, Saba Nut
@@ Line 38: / Line 28: @@
 | subspecies =
 | cultivar =
 }}
 Growth Habit: The Malabar chestnut is a very showy evergreen tree with greenish bark that can grow to 60 ft. in the tropics. In California the growth is more like 10 to 15 ft. tall with a spread of 8 to 10 feet.