Triplaris Species, Ant Tree, Hormigo

This is the brazilian tree used in urban arborization and landscaping, since it is an upright tree that doesn´t demand much room, and al...Read Moreso doesn´t require much care around here. These trees are not very tall, staying around 6-8 meters tall.

The leaves are big, eliptical, bright green, concentrated on the tip of the branches (that are not particularly abundant either, the tree is really quite upright).

This species is dioecious: it has plants that produce exclusively male flowers, and plants that produce female flowers only.

The male plants have long, terminal inflorescences covered with tiny cream colored flowers that usually atracts bees.

The male plants also have terminal inflorescences, but they are more compact. The flowers are significantly bigger than the male ones, with a big, pink calyx that makes the female plants the most atractives when blooming.

The winged seed pods are produced by the female trees. The wings are the dried up calyx that makes it fall like a helichopter. The small seeds are inside, and the easiest way to gather them is by catching the pods that had fallen on the ground.

This plant grows here in either poor (like white sand with little organic matter) or rich soil, with regular watering, high temperatures, and full sun.

After all, the male plants look quite ordinary, being the female trees the pretty ones. But since the male trees are required for the female ones to produce seeds, they are necessary.