This is a very fast growing tree from the brazilian rainforests, being one of the main components of recovering florestal areas. This tre...Read Moree has a particularity. Its leaves and fruits are intensely procured by sloths and hedgehogs. The tree has also some cracks on the trunk, and empty spaces inside. Red ants form colonies inside these spaces, and at any sign of animals coming onto the tree they come out and attack it. The tree produces a mass of proteins and sugar on the base of the leaves that the ants apreciate, and they will do anything to protect their food source - and protect the tree, in exchange.
Well, this tree has an erect, grey, smooth, simple trunk that won´t branch until many meters high. The branches are always curved upwards, bearing leaves only near the top. These leaves are lobate, palmate-shaped, very large, bright green, with a fuzzy texture, and a very long petiole. The flowers are tiny, in long and dense inflorescences, that produces red and sticky fruits.
This tree likes full sun and high to moderate temperatures, constant watering and fertile, well drained soil. However, if you live in a place where you can give it these conditions, it will most likely start to seed itself after a while.
This is a very fast growing tree from the brazilian rainforests, being one of the main components of recovering florestal areas. This tre...Read More