Appearance
"Pachira glabra" reaches heights of 9–18 meters, and its leaves are compound with a fan of 5 to 9 leaflets. It has smooth greenish-gray bark and the trunks are often swollen at the base, even at a young age. Its large, white, fragrant flowers bloom on a long, terminal peduncle, opening at night and dropping by the middle of the following day. Its 10–20-centimeter-long smooth green fruit split open naturally to reveal 10 to 25 irregularly rounded brown seeds that are roughly 2.5 cm in diameter.Naming
"Pachira aquatica" is quite similar looking, has similar culinary and ornamental uses, and goes by many of the same common names. "P. aquatica" has woody gray bark, while "P. glabra"s's is a smoother greenish-gray, and "P. aquatica" will only develop a swollen trunk with age. Likewise, the flowers of "P. aquatica" feature red-tipped petals and red anthers, whereas the flowers of "P. glabra" are all white. In addition, the "P. aquatica" blooms last marginally longer during than those of "P. glabra". "P. glabra" capsules are green rather than brown like those of "P. aquatica". Seed yields of "P. glabra" are also lower than those of "P. aquatica".Young "P. glabra" trees can easily be grown in flowerpots and survive a range of conditions as long as they remain above freezing temperatures. They are marketed commercially as ornamentals with several small trees in a single flowerpot, their trunks braided; specimens are similar in appearance to "P. aquatica" and the small ornamentals sold as "P. aquatica" are almost all actually "P. glabra".Distribution
The species is native to eastern Brazil, where it grows along rivers and other waterways.The tree is highly adaptable to various soils and flourishes in full sun or partial shade. The tree is both drought and flood resistant.
Habitat
The species is native to eastern Brazil, where it grows along rivers and other waterways.The tree is highly adaptable to various soils and flourishes in full sun or partial shade. The tree is both drought and flood resistant.
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