Samanea saman – Rain Tree, Monkey Pod, Saman

Description

Samanea saman, commonly known as the rain tree, is a large, iconic tropical tree prized for its majestic, wide-spreading, umbrella-shaped crown that provides excellent shade. Native to Central and South America, this fast-growing species is now cultivated across the tropics. A distinctive feature of the tree is its bipinnate leaves, whose small leaflets fold up in the evening and during cloudy or rainy weather, a behavior that gives the tree its common name.

The rain tree also produces beautiful, fluffy pink and white flowers and long, indehiscent pods containing a sweet, edible pulp. Its durable, attractive wood is highly valued for crafting furniture and the famous “monkeypod” bowls from Hawaii, while the pods are used as nutritious fodder for livestock.