This fast-growing tropical tree is Trumpetwood, Cecropia schreberiana.

It is easy to recognize by its large, deeply divided leaves, which are dark green above and pale or silvery beneath. When the wind moves through the crown, the lighter undersides flash against the sky.

The trunk and branches are often hollow. These hollow sections have sometimes been used to make simple wind instruments, which helps explain the name Trumpetwood.

The tree produces separate male and female flower spikes. After pollination, the female spikes become soft, fingerlike fruits containing many tiny seeds. Birds and bats feed on them and help spread the seeds.

Trumpetwood is a pioneer species. It quickly colonizes disturbed ground, roadsides, forest gaps, and areas damaged by storms. Its rapid growth provides early shade and shelter, helping other forest plants become established.

It also has a remarkable relationship with ants. In some places, ants live inside the hollow stems and help defend the tree from insects and climbing plants.

Trumpetwood may not live as long as many hardwood trees, but it plays an important role in forest recovery. It is often one of the first trees to appear after disturbance and one of the first signs that a woodland is beginning to return.