The Cellar Image of the Day

xoxoxoBruce Tuesday Oct 19 12:58 AM

Oct 19, 2010: Cannonball Tree

Unlike that big Redwood, this baby can fight back, take you out by dropping a "cannonball" on you.

Quote:

It is the case with a number of plants that they are given popular names which reflect how they look or what they do. So it is with the Cannonball Tree whose fruit is so large that they look like cannonballs. Not only that, when they fall to the ground a large noise is created similar to... you guessed it.

Quote:

So you will not find a Cannonball Tree near a public pathway or a road. One of these fruit, weighing in at several pounds and often up to ten inches in diameter could kill you. So, you really want to avoid standing directly under them when they are in fruit.

Umm, duh.

Quote:

The tree (scientific name Couroupita guianensis is native to the south of the Caribbean and to the northern parts of South America. Yet it has also been growing in India for at least two to three thousand years and the jury is out whether it is native there or somehow the trees were transported across the continents several thousand years ago.

Obviously they were propagated in several places... by space aliens.

link

SPUCK Tuesday Oct 19 06:35 AM

That tree has balls.

Also looks like a Stage Tree.

Sheldonrs Tuesday Oct 19 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUCK

That tree has balls.

Also looks like a Stage Tree.

Gives whole new meaning to the phrase "Morning Wood".

newtimer Tuesday Oct 19 08:46 AM

Yeah, yeah, yeah...they're big and they fall. But how do you eat them?

xoxoxoBruce Tuesday Oct 19 09:49 AM

Quote:

When the fruit cracks it lets out what can only be described as a foul stench. Passing animals are attracted to this odor and when the seeds pass through their digestive system they will hopefully land on fertile soil and a new tree will take root.

You're only allowed if you poop in the woods.

Trilby Tuesday Oct 19 09:57 AM

why are animals attracted to foul stench? What's with animals? I thought they had GOOD noses...

Sheldonrs Tuesday Oct 19 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

why are animals attracted to foul stench? What's with animals? I thought they had GOOD noses...

Humans have the luxury of eating for enjoyment. Animals do it solely for survival. If eating something that stinks means you live another day, you eat something that stinks.

xoxoxoBruce Tuesday Oct 19 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

why are animals attracted to foul stench? What's with animals? I thought they had GOOD noses...

To roll in it, and bring the stench proudly home.

ToastyOhs Tuesday Oct 19 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

why are animals attracted to foul stench? What's with animals? I thought they had GOOD noses...

There are animals whose diet is mostly carrion. Partially decomposed plant and animal matter is easier to eat and digest.

TomBow Tuesday Oct 19 12:50 PM

I think the sign needs to be a bit smaller, to bring more people into range.

Sheldonrs Tuesday Oct 19 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToastyOhs

There are animals whose diet is mostly carrion. Partially decomposed plant and animal matter is easier to eat and digest.

Anthony Bordain, table for one!

spudcon Tuesday Oct 19 03:25 PM

I'll bet there is a species of these that grows by patways, and disguises itself as a money tree.

xoxoxoBruce Tuesday Oct 19 11:35 PM

What's patways?

spudcon Wednesday Oct 20 08:31 AM

Ooops, pathways. Blame it on my keyboard.

xoxoxoBruce Wednesday Oct 20 09:36 AM

That the supermarket up there?

Your reply here?

The Cellar Image of the Day is just a section of a larger web community: a bunch of interesting folks talking about everything. Add your two cents to IotD by joining the Cellar.