Rain tree, also called monkey pod, is a shade tree that grows in tropical climates. Rain trees have short, stout trunks and long spreading branches. The canopies of some rain trees measure more than 100 feet (30 meters) across. The trees are called rain trees in part because moisture that looks like rain often drips from them. Some of the liquid is really a discharge from cicadas feeding on the trees.
Rain trees have pink and white flowers that grow in clusters. The seeds are contained in star-shaped, brown pods. A freshly cut tree has moist wood that is easy to carve and keeps its shape as it dries. The wood has a golden to dark brown color and is used to make bowls, trays, furniture, and paneling. The tree is native to Central America and northern South America. In the United States, it is grown in Hawaii and Florida.
