Tropical Plant "Brazil nut"
Bertholletia excelsa

Characteristics - The Brazil nut is a fruit tree, occasionally cultivated and abundant in nature in its native habitat, the dry land forest of the tropical Amazon forest. It is a semi-deciduous tree, one of the tallest of all brazilian flora (30-50 m tall with a diameter of 1-2 m). Leaves are simple, glabrous, and subcoriaceous, 25-35 cm long, with the lower surface lighter than above. Inflorescences in racemose panicles with large, androgynous flowers, very fragrant and quasi-sessile, form from November to February. The fruits are woody, indehiscent capsules, an incomplete pyxis (without an opening), up to 1.5 kg, commonly called "ouricos" (shells), containing 15 -24 edible seeds (nuts). They ripen from December to March.

Uses - The nuts (seeds) are eaten in their natural state and are greatly appreciated.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.