Tropical Plant "Sapucaia"
Lecythis pisonis

Characteristics - The sapucaia or monkey pot is a fruit tree, cultivated as an ornamental all across southeastern Brazil. It is not frequent in nature in its native habitat, the pluvial Atlantic forest from Ceara to Rio de Janeiro. It is a frondose, deciduous tree, from 20-30 m tall. Leaves are simple, glabrous, membranous, 8-16 cm long, rose- colored when young. Inflorescences in small terminal racemes, with androgynous, fragrant and very ornamental flowers, form in September-October at the same time the new foliage begins to emerge. The fruits are woody, dehiscent capsules, of the pyxis type, weighing up to 2.5 kg, containing 20-30 edible seeds (nuts) that ripen in August-September.

Uses - The seeds are consumed in their natural state and are greatly appreciated.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.