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Amber Tree (hymenaea courbaril)
A very ambitious plant with most
attractive emerald-green heart shaped leaves. Abundant white
flowers, measuring over 1" (2.5 cm) across. The tree is most
famous for producing the resin that, when fossilized, is the source of
neoteopics amber. |
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Balsawood Tree (ochroma pyramidale)
This medium sized tree produces
heart-shaped leaves and large white flowers, as well as an extremely
light, soft wood that is used for rafts and model airplane frames. |
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Calabash
Tree (crescenta cujete)
Stout tree that can be used to
make an interesting bonsai. The greenish yellow flowers are marked
with purple veins which are followed by hard-shelled fruits that are
dried to make maracas and other crafts. |
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Cancer Tree,
Tree of Life (camptotheca acuminata)
Many cancer fighting drugs have
been produced from this tree, two of which (Topotecan for ovarian and
small lung cancers and Irinotecan for colorectal cancer) have been
approved by the Food and Drug Administration. |
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Cashew Nut (anacardium
occidentale)
A small evergreen tree that
produces a fruit which resembles an apple, then develops a seed or
cashew nut at the bottom. The double shell contains a skin
irritating toxin similar to poison ivy. The cashew nut is edible
and the "apple" can be eaten raw or made into chutney, jam or various
beverages including a distilled liquor. |
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Chime Tree (albizia guachapele)
A very comely tree with gentle foliage. Flowers
are yellow and produced in clusters. Fruit is bean-like and when it
dries on the plant it rattles, like a melodious chime, with the slightest
movement of wind. |
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Daffodil Tree (thevetia peruviana) An
attractive small evergreen tree that produces yellow bell-shaped flowers
off and on throughout the year. This beautiful fast growing tree
can also be pruned for use as a shrub if desired. Also known as
Lucky Nut. |
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Emerald
Ebony (jacaranda mimosaefolia) An
attractive tree with lacy bright green leaves that does
exceptionally well as a houseplant. Grows large erect clusters of 2" (5 cm) trumpet-shaped lavender
blue flowers with delicate silky petals that produce year round. |
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Fern Tree
(schizolobium parahybum)
This fast growing, tall, slender
tree produces unique fern-like fronds and is great for shade. It
is easy to grow, produces large golden yellow flowers and is also known
as the Brazilian fire tree. |
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Forest Blaze
(spathodea campanulata)
A spectacularly showy tree with
glorious foliage. Bright crimson 4" (10 cm) unique looking flowers
with yellow frilled edges. Most fascinating. The light wood
is used for making native drums in many South American countries. |
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Forest
Flame (delonix regia)
By far one of the tropical
world's most beautiful plants. It is acclaimed as the queen of the
forest. Like a big umbrella, it bursts into dense clusters of
large scarlet-red flowers with a most eye pleasing mellow yellow
tinge. A must inside any home! |
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Forest
Lilac (gliricidia sepium) An
ornamental tree often used to shade young cocoa
plants in the tropics. Produces pretty pink flowers in cluster form. Natives of
the area use the juice from the leaves as a natural cure for baldness. |
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Forest
Passion (bombacopsis quinatum)
This hardy tree is similar to a cedar tree in looks
and its durable wood is used in construction. The tree has a
unique thorny trunk and produces edible white flowers followed by
fig-like fruits. |
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Gold
Rush Tree (cassia fistula)
A small tropical with graceful foliage. It produces scented flowers of
golden yellow that cascade downward from the branches. A very easy to
grow tropical for indoor or outdoor use. Another of the cassia species
that is known for it’s medicinal purposes. |
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Golden
Goddess (tabebuia chrysantha)
Few plants in the tropical world surpass this
tree for beauty when in bloom. Masses of yellow flowers crowd its
branches, obscuring the leaves, a most eye catching sight, making the
plant one of the most desirable ornamentals. |
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Golden Mimosa (acacia
baileyana)
A small to medium-sized shrub or
tree with silvery green leaves and masses of yellow flowers. Very
pretty. Bark is smooth and gray/brownish. Fast grower. |
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Japanese Maple (acer
palmatum)
A beautiful attractive maple
reaching 15'-25' with numerous leaves deeply 5-9 lobed turning from
green to gold to crimson in the spring time. The fall foliage develops a
more vivid color. May also be grown as a bonsai.
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Lemon
Eucalyptus (eucalyptus citriodora)
This lemon scented evergreen tree
produces a sweet manna-like substance that is scraped off the leaves and
eaten. The leaves also yield a lemon-scented essential oil that is
often used in perfumes, potpourri and for medicinal purposes such as for
the relief of coughs, colds, sore throats and other infections.
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Lipstick
Tree (bixa orellana)
An attractive tree with large jade green leaves and heart shaped
fruit. Dazzling round fuzzy flowers hang in neat clusters. The seeds are
crimson and are used as a natural coloring agent. The
dye is used in cheese, margarine, candy, chocolate, cloth, lipstick and
soap. |
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Love Tree
(bauhinia alba)
Romance is what this tree is
about. It is fabled to bestow love upon the beholder. In
many countries of the tropical world, people believe the heart-shaped
leaves and the orchid-like flowers herald a happy marriage. |
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Mahogany (swietenia macrophylla)
This medium sized tree produces a
fruit commonly called "sky fruit" as they appear to grow upward from the
tree. The pear shaped fruits are often sold as a natural remedy to
improve blood circulation and skin, and are also said to have Viagra
like qualities regarding erectile dysfunction. Wood from the tree
is also harvested for use in furniture. |
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Miracle Tree (leucaena leucocephala)
A very fast growing tree with
mimosa type leaves. It is destined to fame because it flowers year
round since seasonal day-light change does not bother it. That
makes it an exceptional plant for the indoors. |
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Mother Tree (erythrina
berteroana)
A small tree with striking
foliage. Large flowers are deep red and very showy. In many
parts of the tropics this evergreen is used to shade (mother) coffee,
cocoa and vanilla plants. A very easy ornamental to grow. |
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Mother of
Cacao (gliricidia sepium)
Provides shade in cacao
plantations for developing "chocolate trees". Mimosa
type foliage and delicate pink and
white butterfly-like flowers. In Latin American countries the
leaves are sometimes ground up and combined with water to make a insect
repellant. |
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Naked
Tree (erythrina fusca) A
very showy ornamental with bright scarlet flowers that appear upright
on the branch tips. It gets it's name from the habit of blooming for about 2
months before the leaves come in. |
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Orchid
Tree (bauhinia sp.)
An extraordinary small
tree. The heart shaped emerald green leaves are leathery and most
pleasing to the eye with their alluring shimmer. Elegant 2"
(5 cm) flowers are shades of purple and resemble a prized orchid. |
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Palo Verde
(parkinsonia aculeata)
Also known as Jerusalem Thorn,
this lovely tree produces wispy green foliage and delicate yellow
leaves. It provides light, filtered shade and is well suited for
informal landscapes and for use in cactus or succulent gardens. |
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Pink Princess
(euodia elleryana)
An unusual regal-looking tree
possessing great beauty. It has very lustrous bright green
leaves. Produces an abundance of pink-red flowers that stay on the
branches for many weeks. A very desirable houseplant. |
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Pink Shower
(tabebuia rosea)
This small tree produces large
pink flowers in dense clusters. Its wood is used for furniture,
decking and other outdoor uses, while the bark is said to have medicinal
properties. Very popular with hummingbirds and honey bees. |
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Purple
Trumpet (tabebuia impetiginosa)
A wonderful small tree that is
related to the flame vine and jacaranda tree. Its masses of purple
trumpet flowers are very eye catching. Sometimes loses all of its leaves
prior to blooming. |
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Rain
Tree (samanea saman)
This beautiful
crowned tropical tree is known as the species that the Swiss family Robinson
built their massive tree house in. As an indoor ornamental it adds a real
tropical flavor and grows rather large in a short time. The beautiful dainty light green
leaves, close at night or in a sudden downpour of rain. It flowers
pink tipped tufts from spring to fall. |
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Red Sandalwood
Tree (adenanthera pavonina)
A medium to large size tree, this
beautiful ornamental produces ornate red seeds that are used as beads.
Although toxic when raw, the seeds are cooked and eaten in some
countries. Red dye can be made from the tree and the wood is often
used in cabinet making. |
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Royal
Poinciana (delonix regia)
Also known as "queen of the
forest", the scarlet flowers of this tree burst into color over its
umbrella-like form. Often referred to as the most colorful tree in
the world, this specimen is commonly used as a bonsai plant. |
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Sacred Lilac (melia
azedarach)
A spreading tree with handsome
foliage. Clusters of fragrant 1" pale lavender flowers with
purple stamens. The fruit is berrylike, ranging in color from
beige to brown. An extract from the seeds is used as a natural
insecticide. |
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Silk Cotton
Tree a.k.a. Kapok (bombax malabaricum)
Among the largest trees in the
American tropics, they bear beautiful red flowers that mature into husks
containing a fiber similar to cotton or kapok. The tree can reach
30 to 40 meters tall and three meters wide. The fibers are often
used as insulation, stuffing for life preservers and in pillows and
mattresses. |