Native mostly to parts of Central America and South America, the weird Cannonball Tree is cultivated in a few other places and a couple specimens can be found on Oahu.
Although the fruit looks a bit like a husked coconut, the tree itself bears no resemblance.
It starts with a bud that becomes a pretty blossom …
… and eventually becomes a “cannonball.”
The fruit can be fed to chickens and pigs, and is said to have medicinal qualities for both humans and animals.
oahu nature blog 