Enterolobium cyclocarpum, also known as guanacaste, caro caro, or elephant-ear tree, is a towering and imposing flowering tree that boasts an expansive, often spherical crown, and curious, elephant-ear shaped seedpods. Native to tropical regions of the Americas, this highly abundant and versatile species is the national tree of Costa Rica. It is well-known for providing excellent shade relief from the intense sun, shelter to coffee plantations, and forage for cattle. The guanacaste is also greatly valued for its nitrogen fixation, which improves soil fertility. Although it is an invasive species in some places, it is widely grown as a shade tree due to its aggressive reproductive characteristics. Its seeds germinate quickly, and the seedlings can grow up to one meter in height in their first year of life. The seeds are also used to make jewelry in Costa Rica. This tree is a crucial component of the ecosystem, and its highly fragrant flowers attract bees, which are responsible for pollination. The guanacaste seed pods are largely ignored by native fauna, but they may have been a source of nourishment for certain Pleistocene megafauna that became extinct some 10,000 years ago. Despite the lack of an efficient seed-dispersing vector, the guanacaste tree remains a majestic and iconic symbol of the tropical Americas.