Nature’s art: Cannonball tree |29 May 2017

Did you know that in the compound of the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa, you can find a rare tree called the cannonball tree? Its scientific name is Couroupita guianensis.

The information on the board describing the tree reads: “This very rare cannonball tree is the largest and one of the only two cannonball trees in the Seychelles.  The tree is native to the rainforests of Central and South America yet it is cultivated in many other places. A cannonball tree can grow up to 35 metres. The amazingly complex, yellow, reddish and pink flowers grow directly on the bark of the trunk and are strongly scented. Giving the tree its name, the large fruits shaped like big rusty cannonballs, grow and hang in clusters like balls on a string. They take up to one year to ripen and grow up to 25cm in size. The cannonball fruit is edible, but normally not eaten because of its fragrance and smell.”

The tree is known to be used for medicinal purposes. Amazonians use extracts to treat maladies from hypertension, tumors and pains to skin conditions, wounds and toothache. It is native to the rainforests of Central and South America, and it is cultivated in many other tropical areas throughout the world because of its beautiful, fragrant flowers and large, interesting fruits. The tree has cultural and religious significance in India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.