The Sara Tree or Cannonball Tree (Couroupita guianensis), is a deciduous tree in the family Lecythidaceae, which also contains the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa). It is native to the rainforests of Central and South America. It is cultivated in many other places. Legends in Thailand and other Buddhist countries say that the Lord Buddha died under a Sara Tree and for this reason, the tree is often found in temple compounds. However, that tree was the Sala Tree, Shorea robusta, a different species. The "Cannonball Tree" name comes from its
fruit which is about the size of a softball and very hard.
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