Elephant Ear Tree (English), Piich (Maya)Guanacaste
Spanish Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Fabaceae Family.
Native to Mesoamerica. Strong long branches, large
majestic thick trunk, when mature the
Piich
can reach
30-35 meters high, huge canopy, foliage with double
pinnate leaflets. Older Piich trees house many varieties
of wild orchids and bromeliads.
Piich trees
flower
in April and are filled with exotic deep purple-brown
woody seed pods by May. Elephant Ear Tree's seeds
are starchy with a light peanut flavor, very nutritious
and filling. Maya people cooked Piich seeds as
snacks (much like pop-corn) and rural Mayan people
process seeds to make flour for tortillas when corn
crops are marginal.
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