The New Neotropical Companion

common in temperate forests, though wind pollination

occurs in some species of tropical canopy trees.

Fruits and Seeds

Many tropical trees produce small to medium- size

fruits, but some produce large, conspicuous fruits, and

the seeds contained within are large as well (plates 3-

28– 31). Many palms— the Coconut (Cocos nucifera), for

example— produce large, hard fruits in which the seeds

are encased. The Monkey Pot Tree (Lecythis ampla)

produces thick cannonball- like fruits, 20 cm (8 in) in

diameter, each containing up to 50 elongate, 5 cm (2 in)

seeds. The seeds are reported to contain toxic quantities

of the element selenium, perhaps serving to protect the

tree from seed predators (animals that destroy rather than

disperse the seed when consuming it). The Milk Tree

(Brosimum utile) forms succulent, sweet- tasting edible

fruits, each with a single large seed inside. Named for its

white sap (which is drinkable), the Milk Tree may have

been planted extensively at places like Tikal by Maya of

the Classic Period (see chapters 7 and 17). The famous

Brazil nut comes from the forest giant Bertholletia excelsa.

The nuts are contained in large, woody rounded pods

that break open upon dropping to the forest floor.

Most tree species in the huge legume family package

seeds in long, flattened pods, and the seeds tend to

contain toxic amino acids (plate 3- 32). Among the

Plate 3- 24. Some trees, such as the Cochlospermum pictured,

lose their leaves before they set flowers, an adaptation that

helps advertise the bright yellow blossoms to potential

pollinators. Photo by John Kricher.

Plate 3- 25. The bright red bracts of the well- known and

widely distributed Lobster Claw Heliconia (Heliconia rostrata)

enclose the small greenish- yellow flowers within the bracts.

Hummingbirds called hermits are attracted to and cross-

pollinate heliconia plants. Photo by John Kricher.

Plate 3- 26. The Pale- bellied Hermit (Phaethornis anthophilus)

is attracted to the colorful bracts of various Heliconia species.

Photo by John Kricher.

Plate 3- 27. A close look at a heliconia shows the nondescript

flowers “advertised” by the colorful bracts. Photo by Dennis

Paulson.

chapter 3 rain forest: the realm of the plants 47