Cavanillesia (Cavanillesia Platanifolia)

Features and Characteristics

Cavanillesia platanifolia, commonly called cuipo (sometimes spelled quipo), is a tall, fast-growing, deciduous tree native to tropical forests of Nicaragua south to Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Mature specimens can reach between 100-150′ tall with relatively small, sparsely branched, hemispherical-shaped crowns between 70-110′ wide. The trunk is straight with smooth, grey bark marked by distinct growth rings every few feet. The trunks of mature specimens may have small buttresses at their base and can also swell to store water. The wood is light and not useful for lumber but dugout canoes can be made from the trunks. The foliage is ovate to lobed in shape, 8-12″ long, and has a fuzzy texture on the lower leaf surface. The leaves fall off the trees during the dry season and reemerge when wet conditions return. Terminal clusters of small, red-pink flowers bloom during the dry season and are followed by large, 6″ wide, winged fruits. Both flowering and fruiting take place while the tree is leafless.

Genus name honors Antonio Jose Cavanilles (d. 180- director of the botanical garden in Madrid, Spain.

The specific epithet platanifolia means “having leaves like Platanus“, in reference to the lobed, mature form of the foliage.