Pachira aquatica

? Pachira aquatica
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Malvales Family: Bombacaceae Genus: Pachira Species: P. aquatica
Binomial name
Pachira aquatica 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 and South America, where it grows in swamps.

Characteristics

Pachira aquatica can grow up to 18 meters in height in the wild. It has shiny green palmate leaves and smooth green bark. Its showy flowers have long, narrow petals that open like a banana peel to reveal hairlike yellowish orange stamens. The tree is cultivated for its edible nuts which grow in a very large, woody pod. The nuts are light brown, striped with white. They are said to taste like peanuts, 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 in moist, frost-free areas, and can be started from seed or cutting.

Role in East Asian culture

In East Asia, Pachira aquatica (Template:Zh-cpl) is often referred to as the "money tree" (發財樹 fācái shù). The tree had long been popular as an ornamental in Japan. In 1986, a Taiwanese truck driver first cultivated five small trees in a single flowerpot with their trunks braided. The popularity of these ornamentals took off in Japan and later much of the rest of East Asia. They are symbolically associated with good financial fortune and are typically seen in businesses, sometimes with red ribbons or other auspicious ornamentation attached. The trees play an important role in Taiwan's agricultural export economy with exports of NT$250 million (US$7 million) in 2005.

References

• "Class effort gives Taiwan world leadership in 'money tree' exports." Taiwan Headlines reprint from United Daily News. 9 February 2006. Accessed 10 February 2007.
• "Fancy take on money trees puts Taiwan on the map." Taiwan Headlines reprint from Liberty Times. 23 March 2006. Accessed 10 February 2007.
• "Malabar Chestnut" at California Rare Fruit Growers Fruit Facts
• "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"