Napoleonaea imperialis
Napoleons Hat, Napoleana, Napoleona, Butterscotch FlowerFamily: Lecythidaceae
Origin: Africa
Napoleona is an interesting group of trees and shrubs found
in the understorey of tropical rainforests. Esteemed for the exquisite, vividly colored, saucer shaped flowers that grow from leaf axils, or directly from trunk and stem. They are mostly grown as greenhouse specimens by collectors, but can be used as landscaping ornamentals where conditions are suited. Growing conditions are stated to be similar to the related Barringtonia spp.
The fruits sugary pulp is used as desserts, the roots for medicinal purposes and the twigs as traditional chewsticks. The reniform, reddish seeds of this species constitute a false kola, which has a taste closely resembling that of true kola.
The flowers are fragrant and smell like Butterscotch!
See Article about this tree:
Napoleana - Napoleon's Hat: endangered species from outgone era of the Napoleon War.
Similar plants:
See article about Napoleana