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Caryocar

souari trees
Caryocar nuciferum - Lemaire.JPG
Pekea-nut (Caryocar nuciferum)
Pequi03.jpg
Caryocar brasiliense
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Caryocaraceae
Genus: Caryocar
F.Allam. ex L.
Synonyms
  • Pekea Aubl. 1775 not Juss. 1789 (Lecythidaceae)
  • Saouari Aubl.
  • Rhizobolus G.Gaertn. ex Schreb.
  • Barollaea Neck.
  • Acantacaryx Arruda ex Koster, not validly published
  • Acanthocarya Arruda ex Endl.

Caryocar (souari trees) is a genus of flowering plants, in the South American family Caryocaraceae described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1771. It is native primarily to South America with a few species extending into Central America and the West Indies.

Caryocar consists of trees that yield a strong timber. Some of the species within the genus Caryocar have edible fruits, called souari-nuts or sawarri-nuts. The most well-known species is probably the Pekea-nut (C. nuciferum). In Brazil the Pequi (C. brasiliense) is most popular; it has a variety of uses, not the least among them being the production of pequi oil. Furthermore, some species are used by indigenous peoples to produce poisons for hunting.


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Wikipedia

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