Tropical Plant "Sapucaia-mirim"
Lecythis lanceolata

Characteristics - Lecythis lanceolata is a rarely cultivated fruit tree and equally rare in nature in its native habitat, the pluvial Atlantic Forest from Pernambuco to Rio de Janeiro. It is a deciduous tree, 12-28 m tall. Leaves are simple, subcoriaceous, glabrous on both surfaces, 3-9 cm long. They are not rose-colored when young like the common sapucaia. Flowers are androgynous and lightly fragrant, arranged on long, axillary, racemose inflorescences and form from October – February. The fruits are woody, dehiscent capsules of the pyxis type, weighing up to 1.5kg, and containing 5-15 edible seeds (nuts). They ripen from July to September.

Uses - The nuts (seeds) are consumed in their natural state and are not greatly appreciated.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.