Tropical Plant "Souari nut"
Caryocar brasiliense

Characteristics -The Brazilian souari nut is a fruit bearer not under cultivation but plentiful in its natural habitat, the savannas (cerrado) in the states of Goias, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul. It is a semi-deciduous tree with a twisted trunk, 6-10 m tall. Leaves are compound trifoliate with pubescent leaflets, lighter in color underneath. Terminal inflorescences have flowers of both sexes forming during the period of September-November. Fruits are oblong and dehiscent.They ripen in December-January. They contain one or two woody seeds covered in an aromatic, fleshy pulp, the flavor is slightly sweet and pleasant hiding a surface covered in miniscule spines that can injure the inside of the mouth.

Uses - The fruits can be consumed in their natural state, more often they are used in the regional cuisine to prepare 'rice with piqui', in which the julp covered pit is cooked with the rice.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.