Couroupita guianensis Aubl.

Couroupita guianensis or cannonball tree is native to the tropical regions of northern South America, especially the Amazon rainforest, and is now also distributed in India and Thailand. In India, this tree is considered sacred, its flower even proclaimed the State Flower of Puducherry and used in the worship of Lord Shiva in temples. Besides being a perfume, cosmetic, and incense ingredient, the cannonball tree is traditionally used to treat colds, toothache, malaria, and inflammation, though its population is now declining due to land clearing.

Cannonball tree is generally found growing in tropical rainforests, along riversides, and also found in swampy areas at elevations below 500 m asl in Peru. Prefers a sunny position, and grows well in moist to wet, humus-rich soil. Although this plant can also grow well in dry soil.

• Trunk cylindrical, appearing larger due to a dense mass of long-hanging branches (up to 3 m) that emerge and cover the lower trunk, especially on older trees. Bark grayish brown, fissured.
• Leaves alternate, oblong-obovate shaped, up to 20 cm long, surface smooth to somewhat velvety, margin entire to slightly toothed and hairy on the veins beneath.
• Inflorescence clustered, emerging from the trunk and other large branches. Flowers have a complex nectarless structure, each consisting of 6 large, fleshy-waxy petals, red to orange inside and yellow-tinged outside, a short yellow ring-shaped staminal disc (which produces fertile pollen) arranged around the reduced style and stamens, and a pink-white hood-shaped staminal structure (which produces sterile pollen), stamens borne above the androphore, the staminal sheath curving over the pistil. The flower is very fragrant.
• Fruit large, ball-shaped, reddish brown, 15-24 cm in size, with a hard woody outer shell, produced in clusters, taking about 18 months to reach maturity. Each fruit contains 200 to 300 hairy seeds embedded in a 6-segmented fruit pulp. The fruit pulp oxidizes from white to bluish green and emits an unpleasant fermented odor. The top of the fruit will crack open when it falls to the ground.

• Plant propagation through seed or woody stem cuttings.
• Seed: best sown as soon as possible after harvest, does not require pre-treatment. Seedlings should be placed in individual containers when 6-10 cm tall and are ready to be planted when 7 months old.

Aliphatic hydrocarbons, stigmasterol, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids (2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone, 7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavanone, and the phenolic acid 4-hydroxybenzoate), isatin and indirubin, linalool, benzyl alcohol, terpineol, hexadecanoic acid, and cis and trans-furan linalool oxide, p-coumaric acid, o-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and quercetin.

Treats colds, toothache, stomachache, malaria, tumors, hypertension, inflammation, skin diseases, disinfects wounds, addresses pain and inflammatory disorders, an expectorant for acute or chronic cough and bronchitis, boosts immunity.

Sala.