This post has 11 Simple Fields-fields attached. Show fields.
Crescentia alata is native to Central America and Mexico and is adapted to seasonally dry tropical forests. It is a small to medium-sized tree distinguished by its cauliflorous growth habit, producing flowers and fruit directly from its trunk and branches. The flowers are tubular with a broad, wrinkled mouth and prominent venation, typically opening in the late afternoon and remaining receptive through the night. Their structure and timing favor pollination by bats, which are important agents in the reproduction of this species. The tree produces hard-shelled, gourd-like fruits that are used to craft containers, bowls, and musical instruments such as maracas. Photographed in Panama.