Published on Wednesday, July 31, 2024

By Victoria Torley

 

Don’t be fooled, Guanacaste month isn’t over yet, so keep on celebrating.

In July, Costa Rica commemorates the 200th anniversary of Guanacaste Territory Annexation Day, also known as Guanacaste Day.

On July 25, 1824, the Federal Republic of Central America, of which Costa Rica was a part, passed a law that effectively annexed Guanacaste as a province of Costa Rica.

The anniversary month allows us to honor the most beautiful tree in Guanacaste Province.

The Guanacaste tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) is not only named for the Costa Rican Province where it thrives, but it has also served as a national symbol since 1959.

In the Americas, the massive three can be found from the southern zone of the United States to South America.

It is referred to as "conacaste" in El Salvador and Guatemala, and "huanacaxtle" in Mexico. In Panama, the tree is called "corotú," in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua, it is called "guanacaste."

The Guanacaste tree, which belongs to the family Fabaceae, flourishes in tropical and warm temperate climates. It is one of two species known as "three of ears" in various American countries.

The term "Guanacaste" is derived from the Nahuatl language, which was spoken by pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. It combines the phrases "quautl," which means tree, and "nacaztli," which means ear, to get "quauhnacaztli," or "tree of ears," referring to the ear-shaped fruit.

According to the Costa Rica National Herbarium, the gigantic tree was designated as a national symbol in 1959 as part of efforts to encourage the conservation of renewable natural resources. The Ministry of Agriculture proposed the tree as a symbol of Costa Rica's dedication to forest protection.

The enormous tree thrives at heights of nearly 1,300 meters above sea level. It is most frequently found on the Pacific slope, northern Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and the northern areas of the country. 

The Guanacaste tree is distinguished by its dense foliage, even though its trunk is modest in proportion to its large leaves. Unlike other trees, this one has a sturdy trunk and smooth bark. Its wide branches provide mature trees with a lush, umbrella-like shape.

The flowers are hidden, consisting primarily of filaments and small, hardly discernible petals. Bees, beetles, and other insects are attracted to their nectar and they are essential for pollination.

The fruits are distinctive. The Fabaceae family frequently produces pods, but the Guanacaste tree's pods bend almost round, like an ear. This fruit, known as "choreja," or ears, appears on the Bicentennial of Nicoya's Annexation to Costa Rica symbol. The pods have a glossy brown skin and a soft feel. They carry seeds within.

According to Alonso Quesada, a specialist from the National Museum's Department of Natural History, parrots eat the seeds, whilst monkeys prefer the sensitive cores of stems. During peak fruit production, the tree draws tapirs, peccaries, and rodents to its roots. The shade also protects the cattle from the sun.

Its timber is widely sought after for construction because of its resistance to rotting and moisture. It is also utilized in furniture production because of its robust trunk, which produces large brilliantly colored boards perfect for furniture, crafts, and other uses.

Traditionally, people utilized the Guanacaste tree's fruit to extract soapy compounds by soaking the pods in water, resulting in a liquid for washing clothes.

The Guanacaste tree is a national emblem and features on the current 1,000 colones note. It is exhibited in a parched woodland with a pitahaya cactus and a white-tailed deer.

In 1975, it was also included on an official coin commemorating the Central Bank's anniversary.

In addition, the magnificent tree appears on the Guanacaste  Province flag.

What a majestic tree!

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Find more amazing stories about gardening in Costa Rica on the AM Costa Rica Garden website. Questions on this article, Ms. Victoria Torley, gardener columnist, can be reached by emailing victoriatorley1@gmail.com