Rivera Cuale - 48360 Puerto Vallarta

Another tree common to the area is the coconut palm. The coconut is not really a nut but is a type of fruit called a drupe. The coconut palm has many uses from culinary to cosmetic to construction, depending on the part of the tree or fruit being used. The fibrous outer husk of the fruit can be used to make a fiber which is known as coir. Coir is used in making rope, construction, and the assembly of rugs and sacks. The wood of the coconut palm tree is also useful in construction and crafts, as are the leaves. In some regions, charcoal is produced from coconut shells, and coconut palm trees can also be used to make dye, buttons, and jewelry. The flesh of the coconut can be eaten or processed to make coconut milk, and the fruits also produce a liquid known as coconut water which is edible. A delicacy known as hearts of palm is made with the inner shoots of a coconut palm tree, unfortunately killing the tree in the process. The coconut palm tree can also be used as a source of coconut oil (one of Mexico’s exports), which can be used in cooking, skin care, hair care, and cosmetics.

One of the area’s most interesting trees is the strangler fig (ficus cotinifolia), which grows in forested areas. It begins as a seed left behind by an animal on the tree’s surface. As the seed develops, it grows roots that descend down along the trunk of the host tree to reach the ground and enter the soil. Multiple roots do this until they basically engulf the host’s trunk and constrict and "strangle" it. Also, the thick fig foliage overshadows the host’s own canopy, denying it the sunlight it needs. Very often, eventually the host tree dies, but as it rots, the hollow center becomes a shelter and breeding sites for bats, birds and other animals. Moreover, stranglers provide food to a wide variety of animals during times of scarcity. For these reasons, strangler figs are ecologically important in our tropical forests. You may even see some of these trees in homes and restaurants as architectural features – the irregular wrapping of the roots around the host column create a strange sort of sculptural aesthetic.

Rubber fig (ficus elastica) is an ornamental tree that grows in the area, and like the strangler fig, its seeds germinate in cracks and crevices on a host tree (or on structures like buildings and bridges). The trunk develops aerial and buttressing roots to anchor it in the soil and help support heavy branches. The tree produces a white, latex-like sap when tapped. Its large leaves and thick canopy provide a lot of shade as the tree gets large, and they often grow to about 50 feet tall.

The papelillo tree is a member of the Torchwood or Burseraceae family – the frankincense and myrrh family – or simply the incense tree family. The lineage of this family of trees goes back millions upon millions of years in this region. The papelillo tree is instantly recognizable; with its coppery-colored, peeling bark appearing red in the sunlight, it is sometimes called the "gringo tree" or "tourist tree" in reference to visitors who spend too much time on the beach here. The tree has tender trunks and gnarly twisting branches, and can grow to be 100 feet tall. It continually exfoliates its bark in sheets or flakes to dislodge unwanted guests because its wood is soft and brittle and unable to support a lot of weight. The Aztecs called these trees Cuajiote trees, which in their language meant "leprous trees". The tree has also been called the "naked Indian". Today it is most commonly called the Papelillo or "paper tree".

Man has been using this tree for many years. The Mayan first used the bark and resins to produce incense. Later, the American Indians concocted tannin rich potions by boiling Papelillo bark with leaves, making a tea to treat gastritis, colitis, and ulcers. They also produced balms and salves to relieve inflammation from sprains, muscle aches, gout, and various skin irritations. It is still used topically as a contraceptive by women in certain remote areas of Central America! 

Papelillo trees are important in this region because their berries provide critical nourishment for migratory birds coming from the U.S. and Canada. Also, the resin from the trees is used for making varnish and turpentine, and has also been used as cement for ivory, glass, and porcelain. The high treetop of the tree also provides a haven for parrots and other colorful tropical birds of Puerto Vallarta.

The Parota tree is a large, beautiful canopy tree native to the area. It grows from central Mexico down to Brazil, and can reach heights of 100 feet. It is widely grown as a shade tree to shelter coffee plantations and for shade and fodder for cattle; it also improves soil fertility by nitrogen fixation[7]. The wood is reddish-brown, lightweight, and termite and water-resistant, so it is used to make premium-quality furniture and doors, and for shipbuilding as well. Its roots are strong and those of large trees may damage nearby structures. Tolerant of a wide range of rainfall levels, temperatures and soil conditions, they can thrive in most low-elevation, tropical habitats. The seed, which is not eaten by any animals currently native where the tree occurs, is harvested and eaten boiled by Mexicans while the seed pods are still green. Of note is that indigenous people call the Parota tree "huanacaxtle".