Ecology Enterolobium cyclocarpum

branches , foliage of young enterolobium cyclocarpum, 3 years old, in naiguata, venezuela

guanacaste trees appear delay onset of fruit development—some 9 months—so seed maturation coincide start of rainy season. adaptive behavior presumably adaptation give germinating seedlings time possible establish root systems before start of next dry season. both jatobá (hymenaea courbaril) , cenizaro (albizia saman) exhibit similar reproductive strategies. of course, guanacaste trees—like deciduous , semi-deciduous species in part of world—share in water-conserving benefits of dry-season leaflessness.

guanacaste flowers heavily visited bees—insects responsible pollination well. guanacaste seed pods, however, ignored native fauna , accumulate on forest floor underneath parent trees. seeds not eaten animals native tree occurs, rendering plant evolutionary anachronism: has been suggested guanacaste pods among foods exploited species of pleistocene megafauna became extinct 10,000 years ago (e.g. giant ground sloths, giant bison). within scenario, tree remains today without effective seed-dispersing vector—except humans, is.

as discussed above, tough-coated guanacaste seeds not begin grow unless protective covers punctured in way. may adaptation designed keep seeds germinating while still in pods @ start of rainy season—and still underneath parent tree after having fallen crown. more time find them, foraging ground sloths (and other extinct mammals) eat pods , transport seeds new site. resulting mastication , digestion of fruits induce seed coat abrasion, seed germination. nowadays role of mastication , dispersal has been taken horses , cattle.

an insect pest, common guanacaste trees of costa rican central valley, produces spherical green galls of 1.5 cm diameter on new shoots in february , march. similar parasitism seems occur on guanacaste trees of wet, southwestern lowlands (around palmar sur).