Names are confusing
Aight guys, so recently i got into an interest in bonsai, and have been researching bonsai. But what i noticed is that one particular tree, Brazillian Rain Tree, can refer to several species. Most sources state Pithecellobium tortum. But locally [according to authorities] it's Samanea saman AKA Monkey Pod Tree. Are they different trees or synonyms? #HappyPlants #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #PlantAddict #Bonsai #PlantID #identify #BrazilianRainTree #Pithecellobium #Samanea
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Hey my friend 👋 oh don't get me started on naming protocols! 🤦♀️🤣🤣 I'm a bit of a stickler for trying to use the full horticultural names of plants (I have a growing irritation at "Pothos" these days since they barely fully exist any more... Or better yet, "Pathos" (definitely NOT a plant! 😂) or "Potho" which seem to be interchangeable all of a sudden! 🤣 And now suddenly half my Calathea are actually Goeppertia?! 😖🤯😱😂
My understanding is... That the Brazilian rain tree IS Pithecellobium Tortum.
The monkey pod tree is known as a Rain Tree, which I think is where the confusion comes in... But they're native to Chile/ the Argentine rather than Brazil.... And yet, I have seen sources that say they're the same tree (despite the obviously different horticultural names. Though, as we all know, those do tend to change very suddenly! 🤦♀️🤣)
Both trees are well known for their nyctinastic (which is one of my all time favourite words since I discovered it! 😂) leaf movements and the Monkey Pod are generally planted as shade givers for crops like coffee, cacao and vanilla. They also provide surrounding substrate with masses of nitrogen so are really popular for co-planting 💚 and they grow HUGE! like 80ft tall with a 130ft diameter canopy!! Proper jungle trees 👀🥰
The Brazilian rain tree is a great air purifier so fab for bonsai and in home growing (it can even strip formaldehyde and benzene from the air!).
So... I'm basically just as confused as you are honey! 😂💚 Xx
My understanding is... That the Brazilian rain tree IS Pithecellobium Tortum.
The monkey pod tree is known as a Rain Tree, which I think is where the confusion comes in... But they're native to Chile/ the Argentine rather than Brazil.... And yet, I have seen sources that say they're the same tree (despite the obviously different horticultural names. Though, as we all know, those do tend to change very suddenly! 🤦♀️🤣)
Both trees are well known for their nyctinastic (which is one of my all time favourite words since I discovered it! 😂) leaf movements and the Monkey Pod are generally planted as shade givers for crops like coffee, cacao and vanilla. They also provide surrounding substrate with masses of nitrogen so are really popular for co-planting 💚 and they grow HUGE! like 80ft tall with a 130ft diameter canopy!! Proper jungle trees 👀🥰
The Brazilian rain tree is a great air purifier so fab for bonsai and in home growing (it can even strip formaldehyde and benzene from the air!).
So... I'm basically just as confused as you are honey! 😂💚 Xx
@JenniB81 Yes, recent tech and they started renaming EVERYTHING. Suddenly Philo.selloum is Thau.bipinnatifidum, the Honey Gourami [fish, i digress] Polycanthus sota becomes Colisa sota, then Trichopodus sota, then Trichopodus chuna, then Colisa chuna and finally Trichogaster chuna. Even pothos, it was previously Pothos aureus, until it became Rhaphidophora aurea, then they synonymised it with Epipremnum pinnatum until they separated it into Epipremnum aureum. I tell you, scientific names can be as inaccurate as common names.
Back to the topic, Rain trees [the Samanea one] do grow large here. They're great for epiphytes too, in fact the authorities often use them to attach reintroduced native orchids. Often you'll find ferns, moss, banyan figs and sometimes cacti in their branches. I find they're nyctinastic nature fascinating too, and they're blooms are brilliant as well! I particularly love how large their trunk can get, and they become umbrella shaped too!
Back to the topic, Rain trees [the Samanea one] do grow large here. They're great for epiphytes too, in fact the authorities often use them to attach reintroduced native orchids. Often you'll find ferns, moss, banyan figs and sometimes cacti in their branches. I find they're nyctinastic nature fascinating too, and they're blooms are brilliant as well! I particularly love how large their trunk can get, and they become umbrella shaped too!
