Crescentia cujete
Calabash tree
Known for its large, spherical fruits growing directly on its trunk and branches, the calabash tree is an iconic tree of tropical regions. For generations, its fruits have been used to make everyday objects, musical instruments, and decorative items.
Visible au jardin
Carte d’identité
de l’espèce
de l’espèce
Native to tropical America, the calabash tree is cultivated in many warm regions worldwide. Its compact growth habit, evergreen foliage, and hard-shelled fruits make it an easily identifiable species in tropical gardens and landscapes.
Famille :
Bignoniaceae
Origine géographique :
Tropical America and the Caribbean
Taille :
4 to 10 meters
Floraison :
All year round with varying peaks
Habitat :
Tropical dry to humid areas and gardens
Classe :
Magnoliopsida
Ordre :
Lamiales
A tree with astonishing fruits
The calabash tree has dense foliage made up of small green leaves clustered along its branches. Its flowers, greenish to purplish-brown in color, appear directly on the trunk and large branches, a phenomenon called cauliflory.
After flowering, large round fruits develop, which can reach over twenty centimeters in diameter. Their shell becomes extremely hard as they ripen. Once emptied and dried, these fruits have long been used in many tropical cultures to make containers, ladles, handicrafts, and even certain traditional musical instruments.
Like the kapok tree, the calabash tree is one of the remarkable trees that can be easily spotted during a stroll in a tropical garden. Its unique fruits often pique visitors' curiosity.
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