Botanically speaking, the tree is called Samanea saman, also known
as the rain tree or monkeypod tree. There are a number of reasons why it is
called the rain tree.
- First, the leaves (actually leaflets) on this tree are light-sensitive and close together on cloudy days and at night. This allows rain to fall through the canopy with little resistance.
- Second, as certain sap-sucking insects like aphids feed, they also excrete sugary waste called honeydew. If the tree is infested with a large population of these insects, the honeydew they produce will constantly rain down like a fine mist. Don’t park your car under the tree while this is going on.
- Third, the nectaries on the leaf stems at times will also expel a sugary juice.
