The Rain Tree (Samanea saman)
The Rain Tree is a very fascinating tree that is well known for its flowers. It is a fascinating tree with a lot of science behind it. So let's see what the science has to say.
Physical Characteristics and Behavior
The Rain Tree has a wide canopy, appearing somewhat like an umbrella. These types of trees are awesome to spend time under. In fact, they can grow 20 meters high by 30 meters wide, making them wider than they are tall. While the seed pods are often consumed by kids due to their sweet nature, one must be careful, as some parts of this plant are poisonous if consumed.
The flowers are odd, as they do not tend to have typical pedals like normal flowers do. The flowers spread out in strings in all directions, looking like a small natural pom-pom. They are definitely a sight to behold and have been found cultivated in many located in the Americas. It often blooms in the late spring to early-to-mid summer.
One great part about this tree is the fact that it can help with the climate crisis. Many people are using it as a form of CO2 sequestration. They are able to pull about 30 tons of carbon dioxide out of the air annually. Since they are already seen as good neighborhood plants and trees to put by the side of the road, adding more can be highly beneficial.
Habitat and Location
They are mainly found in South and Central America. It is found in Mexico all the way down to Bolivia. That being said, you can it has been cultivated and planted as neighborhood trees all throughout the United States as well.
The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern, as its population is very stable.
Here is a video showing what the tree looks like: