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Bertholletia excelsa - Bonpl.

Common Name Brazil Nut
Family Lecythidaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards Nuts from trees growing on barium-rich soils can accumulate up to 0.29% barium and should be avoided due to danger of barium toxicity[ 324 ].
Habitats Deep, rich, alluvial soils, on slightly raised ground that is not subject to regular or extensive flooding[ 200 ].
Range North and western S. America - Brazil, Venezuela, the Guyanas.
Edibility Rating    (5 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Bertholletia excelsa Brazil Nut


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Bertholletia excelsa Brazil Nut
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Summary

Brazil nut or Berholletia excels is a large, tropical, evergreen tree up to 60 m tall and trunk diameter of 14 m. It is found in South America. Brazil nut has medicinal properties. In particular, its bark is used against liver problems and seed oil is applied to burns. The fruit can be made into a tea which is then used for gastralgia. The seed is eaten raw or cooked. It also produces edible oil that can be used like an olive oil. The oil is also used in making perfume, paint, and soap. The bark is a source or fibre. Empty fruit capsules are used as cups or other receptacles. The wood is used for construction, flooring, carpentry, and cabinet making among others.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Bertholletia excelsa is an evergreen Tree growing to 40 m (131ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Barthollesia excelsa Silva Manso Bertholletia nobilis Miers

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Oil  Seed
Edible Uses: Oil

Edible portion: Nut, Oil, Flavouring. Seed - raw or cooked. A mild flavour, the nuts are a common item of food, eaten raw and also roasted, salted or used in ice cream etc[ 301 ]. The nuts are very nutritious, containing roughly 66% fat or oil, 17% protein and 7% carbohydrate[ 63 ]. The ripe fruit is a wooden capsule weighing up to 750g and containing 12 - 24 angular brown seed, each about 5cm long and 2.5cm wide[ 63 , 418 ]. An oil is obtained from the seed[ 301 ]. The fresh-pressed oil is pale yellow, almost odourless, with a pleasant nutty flavour[ 63 ]. It is not unlike almond oil in composition[ 63 ]. It can be used like olive oil[ 63 ]. Nuts have a high level of selenium. They are also high in sulphur containing amino acids.

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.
Skin

The bark of the tree is used as a treatment for liver problems[ 303 ]. The sweet oil from the seeds is applied to burns[ 348 ]. A tea made from the fruit is used as a treatment for gastralgia[ 739 ]. Nuts have a high level of selenium. They are also high in sulphur containing amino acids.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Containers  Fibre  Filter  Fuel  Furniture  Lighting  Oil  Waterproofing  Wood

Other uses rating: Medium (3/5). Large Nut Tree, Public Open Spaces, Botanic Collections. Other Uses The hard woody 'fruit' that contains the seeds is used as cups or other receptacles[ 63 ]. It is also made into bracelets or carved to make other ornaments[ 63 , 303 ]. Empty fruit capsules are used to carry small, smoky fires in order to discourage black flies (Simulium spp.) from attacking people working in the field during the rainy season[ 303 ]. Open capsules are sometimes used to collect latex from rubber trees[ 303 ]. The oil obtained from the seed has been used as an illuminant[ 63 ]. The oil has also sometimes been used in perfumery, paint and soap making, and as a lubricant for watches and clocks[ 63 , 418 ]. The woody 'fruits' make an excellent fuel[ 63 , 303 ]. The nut, which has an elevated oil content of 63-69%, burns with a candle-like flame when lit[ 303 ]. The bark has been used in remote regions for fibre production[ 303 ]. It is used for caulking ships[ 46 , 454 ]. The heartwood is light brown to reddish; it is not clearly demarcated from the 3 - 5cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium, the grain straight or interlocked; lustre is medium. The wood is moderately heavy, hard and moderately durable being moderately resistant to fungi and termites but susceptible to dry wood borers. Seasoning is fairly fast with only a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. It works well with normal tools; nailing and screwing are good; gluing is correct for internal purposes only. The durable wood is sought by boat builders, and is also used for purposes such as interior joinery, cabinet making, high class furniture, construction, flooring, heavy carpentry and sliced veneer[ 63 , 303 , 363 , 419 , 848 ]. The felling of the trees is discouraged because they are more valuable as a nut crop, however the wood is well suited to all manner of structural work[ 63 ]. The charcoal from Brazil nut shells is good at purifying water.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Management: Standard  Minor Global Crop  Mostly Wild-collected  Other Systems: Multistrata  Staple Crop: Protein-oil

A plant of the lowland, tropical rain forests, where it is found at elevations up to 200 metres[ 303 , 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 36°c, but can tolerate 12 - 40°c[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,400 - 2,800mm, but tolerates 1,400 - 3,500mm[ 418 ]. In eastern Amazonia, in the lower limits of its climatic range, there can be 2 - 7 months where the monthly rainfall is less than 100 mm[ 324 ]. A pronounced dry season is necessary for good fruit set[ 303 ]. Requires a deep, well-drained but moisture retentive fertile, medium to heavy soil[ 307 , 418 ]. Mature trees grow best in a sunny position[ 307 ], but young trees require shade for their first 5 - 7 years[ 418 ]. Well adapted to heavy clay and low-fertility Oxisols but is not tolerant to waterlogging[ 303 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8[ 418 ]. Trees commence flowering when about 5 - 6 years old[ 418 ]. Fruiting starts at 12 - 16 years in the forest and as early as 8 years if trees are well managed in the open[ 303 , 418 ]. Mature nuts are produced approximately 15 months after fertilization[ 63 , 303 ]. The seeds are borne in a large spherical wooden 'fruit' that is up to 15cm in diameter and can weight up to 2 kilos[ 63 ]. Between 12 and 24 seeds are contained in each fruit and this falls intact from the tree when it is ripe[ 63 ]. Since the fruits are only formed on the upper branches, and these can be 30 metres or more above ground level, this can make collecting the seeds a rather hazardous occupation[ 63 ]. The nuts are normally extracted in situ from the 'fruits' and then shipped out of the jungle to be sold[ 63 ]. Trees 16 years old produce 30 - 50 fruits, mature trees usually 200 - 400, and a yield of 1,000 fruits has been reported[ 303 ]. Yields of up to 450 kilos of nuts can be obtained from the best trees[ 63 ].

Carbon Farming

  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.
  • Mostly Wild-collected  Some wild plants have strong historical or contemporary use. Although they are not cultivated crops, they may be wild-managed.
  • Other Systems: Multistrata  Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.
  • Staple Crop: Protein-oil  (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - fresh seed germinates rapidly, often within 2 - 3 weeks, so long as a portion of the hard shell is cracked or carefully removed first in order to allow the entry of moisture[ 63 ]. Otherwise seed can take 2 years to germinate[ 63 ]. Seedlings probably need good light to grow away well[ 303 ]. Seedling trees have borne a first crop at an age of 14 - 20 years[ 63 ]. If the conditions are right, some of the seeds buried by rodents may germinate. Trees appear to depend on natural or artificial disturbance to reproduce. For example, they will be found in clearings in the forest created by humans, forest gaps created by tree fall, or sprouting from damaged mother roots. Trees take about 10 years to start reproducing; grafted material may begin to bear nuts within 4 years. Other than using a single clone, several selections are cloned and grafted onto stock to encourage cross-fertilization, which increases yield[ 303 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Brazil nut or Berholletia excels

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Guyana, Venezuela, Amazonas, Brazil, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pará, Amapá (Acre, Rondonia, Matto Grosso), Bolivia, El Beni, Colombia, Amazonas, Peru, Madre de Dios (east),

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.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Vulnerable

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

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

Bonpl.

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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