Common Name(s): Guanacaste, Monkey Ear Tree, Elephant Ear Tree, Ear Pod Tree

Synonym(s):

Family: Fabaceae

Native To: Central America

Native Habitat: Tropical and semi-arid regions

Growth Habit: Medium sized deciduous tree

Flowering: Small white flowers in the spring

Distinguishing Characteristics: This fast growing tree reaches heights of 100 feet with a spread of 70 feet or more. The trunk is brown with many stems. The bipinnate leaves have 20 to 30 pairs of leaflets. The leaves are deciduous. The small white flowers are formed on green pompoms. They are followed by a flattened, dark brown seedpod, curved into a circle about 3 to 6 inches long and resembling a strange ear.

Natural History and Cultivation Notes: The species name means fruit in a circle, referring to the oddly shaped pods of this species. This tree is also commonly known in South America as guanacaste, meaning ear tree. This tree is the national tree of Costa Rica and El Salvador.

Ethnobotany: Most notably, the pods of this tree are used extensively as decoration and for crafts. The litter from the leaves is used for animal fodder.

Back to UA Arboretum Species Listing Page