Gustavia superba (Membrillo)

Native from Panama to northwestern Ecuador, this tropical tree has thick, sparsely branched stems and large leaves crowded at the branch ends. Showy flowers arise on the trunk and older branches, usually with eight white petals shaded pink toward their tips. Numerous stamens form a conspicuous ring around the center. Rounded fruits turn yellow and contain orange flesh around large brown seeds. The cooked fruit pulp is eaten locally. Carpenter bees and stingless bees visit the flowers, while monkeys, squirrels and agoutis disperse seeds as they carry fruits away to eat the flesh. Photographed in Colombia.