Couroupita

Morphological Summary

Monotípic or few-species genus in the family Lecythidaceae, native to the tropical forests of northern South America and the Caribbean. It includes the famous Couroupita guianensis, known as the "cannonball tree" for its enormous spherical woody fruits hanging directly from the trunk. The genus is celebrated for extreme cauliflory: clusters of fragrant, showy flowers emerge directly from the main stem. Cultivated in tropical botanical gardens worldwide as a monumental tree of great ornamental and symbolic value.