Cassia grandis (Pink Shower Tree)

Native to tropical America, from central Mexico southward and across the Caribbean, this semi-deciduous tree in the legume family can reach about 65 feet or more. It grows in lowland forests and along rivers; in Colombia, it is recorded between about 33 and 3,950 feet. Compound leaves carry many pairs of small oval leaflets. Flowers open red, fading to pink and peach, often before new leaves appear. Large woody pods contain seeds surrounded by sweetish, strongly scented pulp. The seed coverings are used as a chocolate substitute in Central America, and the pulp has traditional use as a laxative. The pods provide cattle feed, and the wood is used for construction. Photographed in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.