The Morro Tree [Crescentia alata] and its Habitat
The Morro tree Crescentia alata grows, wild and cultivated, in many low to mid elevation habitats throughout Central America. The hilly and semi-arid scrublands and savannah of south-central Guatemala and northern Honduras are home to a particularly high population density of the tree. The Morro tree is also known by the names Jicaro tree or Calabash tree.
Morro trees are well adapted to a habitat that is scarce in water. The tree’s small leaves and low spreading growth habit protect from losing too much water to evaporation under the intense tropical sun. The Morro tree grows surrounded by a wide variety of arid-adapted plants including Acacias, Guayacan, and Cacti.
Morro trees grow hardily in both natural and disturbed habitats. They are a dominant tree species in natural savannah and undisturbed hillsides. They also thrive along the sides of roads and as part of living fences between farms and pastures. Morro trees are especially prevalent on ranges grazed by cattle. Cows and horses are observed to crush the hard shells of the large fruits and eat the moist inner pulp as a drought food when other water sources are not available during the region’s intense dry season.
Even though Morro is adapted to withstand high heat and low rainfall, its large fruits still require large amounts of water. Morro trees are most prevalent in the plains, valleys, and hills adjacent to mountain ranges whose rains flow down through streams and water tables to provide ample ground water.
