Parmentiera cereifera
Family: Bignoniaceae
Origin: Central and South America
Description A small spreading tree, native of Mexico and Central America, and dispersed to many warm countries as an ornamental. The flower has a large brownish calyx and a white corolla to 7.5 cm long. The tree gets its English name from the fruit which is pendant to 1.30 m long, yellowish and resembling a candle.The fruits are fleshy and are said to be eaten in Panama and to be fed to cattle. The leaves contain an unidentified glycoside, and traces of hydrocyanic acid have been detected in the fruits, leaves and roots.
Fruits and seeds are edible. The tree is also commonly grown as an ornamental for its strange appearance when fruits are ripening.
Source: Kew |
