Hans Hillewaert · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
Pachira is a genus of tropical trees notable for its diverse species and its historical association with the name *Pachira aquatica*, often called the 'Luck Chestnut.' The genus contains 54 accepted species.
Field notes
Morphology
The species form small or large trees with digitate leaves, and the fruit is an oval woody one-celled capsule opening by a number of divisions and containing many seeds.
Distribution & habitat
Tropical regions of Central and South America and the Caribbean, ranging from Mexico to Bolivia and southern Brazil.
History & etymology
The genus was first named *Pachira* by Jean Baptiste Aublet in 1775. The name is derived from a language spoken in Guyana. Carl Linnaeus the Younger named one species, *Pachira aquatica*, after Princess Caroline of Baden in 1782.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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