Gustavia superba

A medium-sized tree with a straight trunk that is often unbranched, with just one cluster of leaves at the top of the trunk (like a palm).

Flowers are large and purple, with many stamen arranged in a ring, few in number. From March to June, when they are mature, a few flowers can easily be found on ground beneath adult trees. Fruits are round, green, hard, larger and heavier than a baseball. Inside are a few large seeds. The fruits often remain on the ground for weeks, rotting and collecting mold.

Similar plants:

• Gustavia augusta (Membrillo, Paco, Pacora, Choco, Sachamango, Heaven Lotus)
• Gustavia gracillima (Heaven Lotus, Narrow-Leaved Gustavia)
• Gustavia monocaulis (Gustavia)