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Summary
Physical Characteristics

Caryocar nuciferum is an evergreen Tree growing to 45 m (147ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Caryocar tomentosum Willd. Caryocar tuberculosum (Aubl.) Baill. Pekea tuberculosa Aubl.
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Oil Seed
Edible Uses: Oil
Seed - raw or cooked. The large, soft, white kernels have a delicious, rich, almond-like flavour and are enclosed in a hard shell[63 , 200 , 301 ]. The seed contains over 60% fat[63 ]. The kidney-shaped kernel is usually well over 5cm long and 2cm in diameter[63 ]. The seed shell is about 7mm thick and difficult to crack[63 ]. The large fruit containing the seeds can weigh up to 11kg and measure 18cm in diameter, it contains 1 - 4 seeds (usually 1 or 2) which are easily extracted from it[63 , 200 ]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[301 ]. Excellent for preparing bakery products[301 ]. Fruit - cooked[301 ]. The oily, yellow pulp is cooked and eaten as a vegetable[301 ].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Febrifuge
The whole plant is used as a febrifuge[348 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Oil Wood
Wood - hard and durable[63 ]. A potentially valuable timber, well suited for making canoes and the crooks of boats, but little used because of the tree's value as a seed producer[63 ].
Special Uses
Carbon Farming Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Management: Standard Regional Crop Staple Crop: Oil
A plant of the humid, lowland, tropical forests, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres[335 , 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 28c, but can tolerate 10 - 35c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,600 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 2,400mm[418 ]. Grows best in a sunny position[418 ]. Prefers well-drained, light loams of good depth and fertile sandy soils[63 , 418 ]. Dislikes poor soils[63 ]. Plants are very susceptible to drought[200 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.5, tolerating 5.5 - 7[418 ]. Fruits take about 4 months to ripen from flowering[63 ]. Plants can take up to 20 years to produce their first crop from seed, though this can be greatly reduced by applying shade and wind protection when the plants are young[200 ].
Carbon Farming
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
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Staple Crop: Oil
(0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
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Propagation
Seed - takes 6 - 12 months to germinate[63 ]. Grow young plants on in a sheltered position with some shelter from the sun[63 ].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Guiana nut, Butter-nut of Guiana, pekea-nut, or – like all other species of Caryocar with edible nuts – "souari-nut" or "sawarri-nut".
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Asia, Brazil, Central America, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Panama, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Venezuela
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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Subject : Caryocar nuciferum
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