Caryocar nuciferum

Caryocar nuciferum, the butter-nut of Guiana, is a fruit tree native to Central and South America.

Description

A tall tree. It grows 45 m tall. It has thick buttresses. The leaves have 3 leaflets. The end leaflet is 12-30 cm long by 6-18 cm wide. There are slightly rounded teeth along the edge. The flowers are in groups of 2-8. Flowers open at night. The flowers are very large and deep red. They have large numbers of yellow stamens. The fruit are 10-15 cm across. The nut is kidney shaped. It is about the size of a hen's egg. The nut is large, soft and sweet.

Edible Uses

The seeds of Caryocar nuciferum can be eaten raw or cooked. The large, soft, white kernels have a delicious, rich, almond-like flavour and are enclosed in a hard shell approximately 7 mm thick that is difficult to crack. Each kidney-shaped kernel is usually well over 5 cm long and 2 cm in diameter, and contains over 60% fat. The large fruit can weigh up to 11 kg and measure 18 cm in diameter, typically containing 1–4 seeds (usually 1 or 2) that are easily extracted. An edible oil is also obtained from the seed, which is excellent for bakery products. The oily, yellow fruit pulp is cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

The seeds or nuts are eaten raw. They are also roasted or cooked in salt water. They yield an oil that is used for cooking. It is edible. The oily yellow pulp of the fruit can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Medicinal Uses

The whole plant is used as a febrifuge.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It suits the humid tropical lowlands. It is a rainforest tree. The flowers are pollinated by bats at night.

Where It Grows

Asia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Panama, SE Asia, Singapore, South America*, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Venezuela,

Cultivation

It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 28c, but can tolerate 10 - 35c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,600 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 2,400mm. Grows best in a sunny position. Prefers well-drained, light loams of good depth and fertile sandy soils. Dislikes poor soils. Plants are very susceptible to drought. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.5, tolerating 5.5 - 7. Fruits take about 4 months to ripen from flowering. 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.

Propagation

Seed takes 6–12 months to germinate. Grow young plants on in a sheltered position with some protection from direct sun.

Other Uses

The wood is hard and durable, and is potentially valuable as a timber well suited for making canoes and boat crooks, though it is little used given the tree's value as a seed producer.

Production

Trees can fruit at 5 years of age. Often they fruit are 10-15 years.

Other Information

It is a cultivated food plant. It is tasty and nutritious.

Notes

The Caryocaraceae occur in tropical America. There are 16 Caryocar species.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Alokomali, Cagui, Guiana nut, Hora, Horea, Hura, Imbe, Impe-yek, Inginoto, Pineberoe, Sauari nut, Sawari, Sawarinoto, Sourie

References (29)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 108
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 93
• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 87
• Burkill, I.H., 1966, A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Vol 1 (A-H) p 474
• Darley, J.J., 1993, Know and Enjoy Tropical Fruit. P & S Publishers. p 78

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