Plants · La Saladita, Guerrero

elephant ear tree

Enterolobium cyclocarpum

Spanish: Guanacaste

elephant ear tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)
Photographed by dennisaur-fern on iNaturalist

Enterolobium cyclocarpum, commonly known as guanacaste, caro caro, or elephant-ear tree, is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to tropical regions of the Americas, from central Mexico south to northern Brazil (Roraima) and Venezuela. It is known for its large proportions, its expansive, often spherical crown, and its curiously shaped seedpods. The abundance of this tree, especially in Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica, where it is prized for the shady...

TaxonomyMagnoliopsida › Fabales › Fabaceae
Local records34 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records6,016 on iNaturalist
Most recent records2025 – 2026
Months of the 8 most recent records
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Plants guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “elephant ear tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/enterolobium-cyclocarpum/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.