Lecythis pisonis (Monkey Pot Tree)

Native to Brazilian coastal forest and Amazonia, this large tree reaches the forest canopy or rises above it. Its fissured bark separates into layers, and its flowers have purple-tinged petals and a distinctive flat hood above the stamens, often fading toward white after opening. Female carpenter bees pollinate the flowers in Bahia and Amazonia, Brazil. Large woody fruits open with a lid and contain grooved, edible seeds with pale basal arils. Bats disperse the seeds, sometimes carrying them away soon after the fruits open. The tree is planted near homes for its nuts and grown in tropical botanical collections beyond its native range. Photographed in Colombia.