Plant · GBIF taxon 2984476
Shielded Trumpet Tree
Cecropia peltataAlso known as Trumpet Bush, Bacano, Bois Canon, Snakewood
Shielded trumpet trees grow at an astonishing rate in sunlit clearings, casting shade with giant, umbrella-like leaves that feature silver-white undersides. Hollow stem internodes provide specialized housing for aggressive Azteca ants, which patrol the foliage and protect the tree from leaf-cutting pests. Outside its native tropical American range, this aggressive pioneer species easily outcompetes native flora to dominate disturbed forest canopies.
Fast-growingTreePioneer Species
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Three-toed Sloths
- Toucans
- Fruit Bats
ThreatsEradication programs in invasive regions; minimal in native range
HabitatsDisturbed rainforests, secondary forests, canopy gaps, riverbanks
Life span30–50 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyUrticaceae
- SpeciesCecropia peltata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Ant Defense: Avoid disturbing lower trunks or branches, as resident ants swiftly attack invaders.
- Spotting Undersides: Look up into canopy gaps for flashes of silver beneath the massive leaves.
Symbiont 
Herbivore (c) Carlos Otávio Gussoni, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Seed Disperser (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés · cc-by-saClose Relative
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