Over the last 50 years, several species of imported trees have been added to the grounds at Mission San Fernando including a variety of palm trees and a couple of large redwoods. Among the Mission's col-lection of transplants is a colorful tree with an interesting history that originated in some of the dry forest areas of Southern Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, and Venezuela.
The trunks and limbs of the Pochote bear large, stubby thorns and these sturdy trees have often been utilized as living fence posts with barbed wire strung between them. The thorns have also been used in the making of small sculptures that characterize the longstanding sacred status of the Pochote in a number of American cultures.
Pachira Quinata,
commonly known as Pochote, is a
flowering tree classified within the extensive (Malvaceae) family that includes the numerous varieties of okra, cotton, and cacao plants
as well as the large Hibiscus genera.
Commonly grown on plantations, (mostly in Costa Rica
The trunks and limbs of the Pochote bear large, stubby thorns and these sturdy trees have often been utilized as living fence posts with barbed wire strung between them. The thorns have also been used in the making of small sculptures that characterize the longstanding sacred status of the Pochote in a number of American cultures.
In addition to its attractive flowers and
leaves, Pochote trees produce large seed pods that contain a fluffy,
cotton-like fiber. This natural “silk floss” has been utilized historically to
make pillows, comforters, and other domestic items.
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