Chiranthodendron pentadactylon
Chiranthodendron pentadactylon is the name given to this plant coming from central America. The
denomination refers to the curious shape of the stamens which are
partially united and form a red small hand with hooked fingers.
For
this feature, the tree is considered sacred, and the native population
would gather its flowers for the religious ceremonies.
The plant was
considered to be extinct; only in 1787 a unique specimen was found in
Mexico. Almost after a century in Guatemala whole forests of it were
discovered.
The tree you can find along the route is thirty years old and regularly blooms every year between May and June.
It has been seriously damaged by the hard frost during the winter of 1985 and 1986 and has begun to bloom only five years later.
