''Acioa edulis'' of the family Chrysobalanaceae. (The tree's Portuguese
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
: Castanha-de-cutia;
syn.
The Botanical and Zoological Codes of nomenclature treat the concept of synonymy differently.
* In botanical nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that applies to a taxon that (now) goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnae ...
''Couepia edulis'' (Prance) Prance) is a fruit and timber tree, which is native of
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...
vegetation in
Brazil. The trees grow naturally only within a small area of Brazil. However, they proliferate widely within this area. The tree is around 25 meters (82 feet) tall, with entire leaves that are oval or round, measuring three or four inches (8 to 10 centimeters) in diameter, with a petiole up to one inch (2.5 centimeters) in length. Its fruits range from 8-9 centimeters (3 to 3.5 inches) in length and 4-5 centimeters (1.75 to 2 inches) in diameter. and contain a single nut. Later these nuts float on the waters and have been collected for centuries as the source of a valuable oil, but their source was unknown until 1978 when botanical explorer Ghillean Prance discovered the species of tree which produces them.
Cultivation
The fruit is edible or can be pressed to extract oil used in cooking or soap making. The kernel is also edible.
See also
*
List of plants of Amazon Rainforest vegetation of Brazil
References
External links
''Acioa edulis''wood photo
Chrysobalanaceae
Trees of Brazil
Trees of the Amazon
Tropical fruit
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