Cannonball flowering tree
Large deciduous tree with beautiful, fragrant flowers and large, stinky fruits! Flowers bloom and die within a day, but a large tree can put out 1000 flowers in a day!
| Botanical name | Couroupita guianensis |
| English names | Cannonball tree |
| Nederlandse naam | Kanonskogelboom |
| Indian names | Hindi: Shiv Kamal, Kailaspati |
Characteristics
| Native habitat | Central and South America, grown in many other tropical zones | |||
| Plant Type | large, deciduous tree | |||
| Bloom time | May, June, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct | Fall color | – | |
| Fruit | has large cannonball shaped fruits with an unpleasant odour | |||
| Uses | religious, medicinal |
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Special notes
The trees are grown extensively in Shiva temples in India. In Hindi it is called Shiv Kamal and also known as “Kailaspati”. It is called the Nagalingam tree in Tamil. The flowers are called Shivalinga flowers in Hindi; Nagalinga Pushpa in Kannada; Nagamalli flowers or Mallikarjuna flowers in Telugu. Hindus revere it as a sacred tree because the petals of the flower resemble the hood of the Naga, a sacred snake, protecting a Shiva Lingam, the stigma.
https://groups.google.com/g/indiantreepix/c/8Zft9r0dpIE?pli=1
The Cannonball Tree possesses antibiotic, antifungal, antiseptic and analgesic qualities. The trees are used to cure colds and stomach aches. Juice made from the leaves is used to cure skin diseases, and shamans of South America have even used tree parts for treating malaria. The inside of the fruit can disinfect wounds and young leaves ease toothache. The fruit emits an unpleasant odor and can be used as an insect repellent just by rubbing it to the skin or clothes.