Cannonball tree (locally known as Nagalinga poovu) is a common alluring sight in and around temple premises and large gardens all over India. Apart from having ornamental value, these trees also have a divine significance in Indian culture due to the resemblance of the flower to the hood of a cobra brooding over a shivalingam like structure visible at the centre.
Popular as Couropita guianensis in scientific world, belonging to Lecythidaceae family, this evergreen tree is native to the rainforest of the Guianas in North East South America. The tree represents a classic example of the uniqueness of plants found in Tropical rainforests. The IUCN (The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) Red Data book has enlisted the Cannon ball Tree in the Lower Risk category (LR/lc) of endangered plants. [A taxon is Lower Risk when it has been evaluated, does not fall into the categories Critically Endangered, Endangered or....
