Sebastiania pavoniana

The term 'Mexican jumping bean' usually refers to the seeds that have been attacked by moth larvae, but the entire plant is also called a 'Mexican jumping bean.' In Spanish, it is called ('jumper seeds'), or simply ('jumper'). In Mayan it is called . The Aztecs call it (or but the name is understood as 'seeds against death' and not as causing death. However neither the flowers nor fruit are peacock blue or any other shade of blue, but more of a greenish yellow. The seeds do have a spot that might abstractly resemble the eyespot on a peacock's tail feathers. The most likely etymology honors José Antonio Pavón Jiménez, from whose collection the species was originally described. ==Description==

S. pavoniana is a slender tree or large shrub that grows up to tall. with hard capsules. Each fruit has three sections. ==Distribution==

S. pavoniana is native to northwest Costa Rica and Mexico, It is one of the most common trees of the Tropical dry broadleaf forest, It typically grows in arroyos or other riparian zones. ==Ecology==

S. pavoniana flowers in both March The pollination syndrome is entomophily (insect-pollinated). Occasionally military macaws (Ara militaris) will also eat the fruit. The leaf phenology is late-drought deciduous. ==Use by humans==

Besides the seeds selling as novelty items, the Yaqui grate the unpeeled (and unparasitized) seeds turning them into flour which is baked into loaves for feast days. The , or 'bread of hunger,' as it's called, is thought to provide a boost of energy. An American entrepreneur in Havana once tried to sell the flour mixed with chicle to make an energizing gum, but was stopped over concern for accidentally introducing the moth to the island of Cuba. It is not known if this is a true pharmacological effect or a placebo effect, hoping that the observed jumping vigor of the seeds is transferred. If a true biological effect is taking place, it would be similar to chewing coca leaves or drinking very strong coffee. ==See also==