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Pachira aquatica Aubl.

Family Name:	Malvaceae
Synonyms:
Common Name:	Guiana Chestnut, Malabar Chestnut, Money Tree, 瓜栗, 发财树

Pachira aquatica , commonly known as Guiana chestnut, is a tree with palmate leaves and fragrant brush-like flowers. The seeds can be boiled, fried, roasted and ground to make a chocolate-like beverage, likely consumed by locals in South America and Mexico. They are said to that taste like roasted peanuts or chestnuts.

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Lots of Water

Moderate Water

Fruit or Vegetable

Indoor Plant

Ornamental Flowers

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Name Authority
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Rounded
Maximum Height	23 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	Mexico to South America
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	It is a tree that can reach up to 23 m in its natural habitat. The trunk can grow up to 70 cm in diameter and may develop buttresses.
Foliage	Leaves are arranged alternately and are palmate with 5 – 7 (– 9) leaflets. Leaflets are oblong-obovate to elliptic, measuring about 5 – 29 cm long and 3 – 15 cm wide, with entire margin.
Flowers	Flower occurs in solitary and is borne on a short flower stalk, measuring 1 – 5.5 cm. It is fragrant, and has a brush-like appearance, comprising 5 greenish-white to brown petals, numerous stamens with red tips and a broadly ovoid ovary.

Fruit	The fruit is woody, capsular and elliptic to subglobose, measuring about 20 (– 30) cm long and 10 (– 12) cm wide. It splits into 5 valves at maturity, revealing seeds surrounded by white, fleshy pulp.
Habitat	It is found in forest near streams and rivers.
Associated Fauna	It is likely pollinated by bats.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seeds, stem cuttings and grafting.
Etymology	The genus epithet is derived from the Guyanese name. Specific epithet aquatica, in Latin, means water, referring to the plant’s natural habitat of growing in or near water.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves, Edible Seeds Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The seeds are edible and they can be boiled, fried, roasted and ground to make a chocolate-like beverage, likely consumed by locals in South America and Mexico. <9,10> Seeds are said to that taste like roasted peanuts or chestnuts. In Panama and Colombia, the seeds are ground into flour for baking bread. In South America, the young leaves and flowers are eaten cooked as a vegetable. <9, 10, 11> Timber & Products: The wood is used to make pulp for paper, boxes, handicrafts, and carpentry work. The bark yields a dye that is used to color sails, ropes, and fishing nets Others: Popularly cultivated as houseplants for ornamental purposes, they are often sold under the trade name 'Money Tree', either with a single trunk, or as multiple plants with braided stems.

Landscaping Features

Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	Container Planting, Interiorscape/ Indoor Plant, General, Riverine, Shade Providing Tree / Palm, Hedge / Screening

SGMP Treatment

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bat Food
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic (Water)

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water, Lots of Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site), Easy to Grow
Maintenance Requirements	Moderate
Propagation Method	Seed, Stem Cutting

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Foliar Type	Compound (Palmate)

Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oblong, Obovate)
Foliar Margin	Entire
Typical Foliar Area	Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 )
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	4.0 (Tree - Dense Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Trunk Type (Non Palm)	Woody
Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Underground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Bisexual Flowers
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, Green, Brown
Flower Grouping	Solitary

Flowering Habit

Polycarpic

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Fruit Classification	Simple Fruit

References

References	<1> Carvalho-Sobrinho, J., Yoshikawa, V. N. & Dorr, L.J. (2021). Notes on Brazilian Pachira (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) II: Additional typifications and new synonymies. PhytoKeys 186: 53–72 <2> Condit, R., Pérez, R. & Daguerre, N. (2011). Trees of Panama and Costa Rica. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press. 496 pp. <3> Croat, T.B. (1978). Flora of Barro Colorado Island. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. 943 pp. <4> Daim Costa, L., Pereira Trindade, R., da Silva Cardoso, P., Barros Colauto, N., Andrea Linde, G. & Murowaniecki Otero, D. (2023) Pachira Aquatica (Malvaceae): An Unconventional Food Plant with Food, Technological, and Nutritional Potential to Be Explored. Food Research International Vol 164. <5> de Lacerda, L.D. (2002). Mangrove Ecosystems: Function and Management. Berlin: Springer Verlag. 292 pp. <6> Duarte, O. & Paull, R. E. (2008). Pachira aquatica Malabar chestnut. In: Janick, J. & Paull, R.E. (eds) The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts, pp. 182 – 184. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. <7> Gargiullo, M.B., Magnuson, B & Kimball, L. (2008). A Field Guide to Plants of Costa Rica. New York, USA: Oxford University Press Inc. 544pp. <8> Ospina, J.A. (2002). Bombacaceae (Kapok Tree Family). In: Vozzo, J.A. (ed.) Tropical Tree Seed Manual. Washington DC, USA: USDA Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 721. 899 pp. <9> Rodrigues, A.P., Pereira, G.A., Tomé, P.H.F., Arruda, H.S., Eberlin, M.N., Pastore, G.M. (2019) Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Monguba (Pachira aquatica) Seeds. Food Research International vol 121: 880–887. <10> Rodrigues, A. P. & Pastore, G. M. (2021). A review of the nutritional composition and current applications of monguba (Pachira aquatica Aubl.) plant. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 99: 1 – 12 <11> van der Vossen, H.A.M. & Umali, B.E. (Editors). 2001. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 14. Minor Vegetable Oils and Fats. Indonesia: Prosea Foundation. 229 pages.

References

<1> Carvalho-Sobrinho, J., Yoshikawa, V. N. & Dorr, L.J. (2021). Notes on Brazilian Pachira (Malvaceae, Bombacoideae) II: Additional typifications and new synonymies. PhytoKeys 186: 53–72
<2> Condit, R., Pérez, R. & Daguerre, N. (2011). Trees of Panama and Costa Rica. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press. 496 pp.
<3> Croat, T.B. (1978). Flora of Barro Colorado Island. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. 943 pp.
<4> Daim Costa, L., Pereira Trindade, R., da Silva Cardoso, P., Barros Colauto, N., Andrea Linde, G. & Murowaniecki Otero, D. (2023) Pachira Aquatica (Malvaceae): An Unconventional Food Plant with Food, Technological, and Nutritional Potential to Be Explored. Food Research International Vol 164.
<5> de Lacerda, L.D. (2002). Mangrove Ecosystems: Function and Management. Berlin: Springer Verlag. 292 pp.
<6> Duarte, O. & Paull, R. E. (2008). Pachira aquatica Malabar chestnut. In: Janick, J. & Paull, R.E. (eds) The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts, pp. 182 – 184. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
<7> Gargiullo, M.B., Magnuson, B & Kimball, L. (2008). A Field Guide to Plants of Costa Rica. New York, USA: Oxford University Press Inc. 544pp.
<8> Ospina, J.A. (2002). Bombacaceae (Kapok Tree Family). In: Vozzo, J.A. (ed.) Tropical Tree Seed Manual. Washington DC, USA: USDA Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook 721. 899 pp.
<9> Rodrigues, A.P., Pereira, G.A., Tomé, P.H.F., Arruda, H.S., Eberlin, M.N., Pastore, G.M. (2019) Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Monguba (Pachira aquatica) Seeds. Food Research International vol 121: 880–887.
<10> Rodrigues, A. P. & Pastore, G. M. (2021). A review of the nutritional composition and current applications of monguba (Pachira aquatica Aubl.) plant. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 99: 1 – 12
<11> van der Vossen, H.A.M. & Umali, B.E. (Editors). 2001. Plant Resources of South-East Asia Volume 14. Minor Vegetable Oils and Fats. Indonesia: Prosea Foundation. 229 pages.

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Master ID	1752
Species ID	3045
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 06 May 2025.