Souari Nut. Butter Nut
Caryocar nuciferum

Family: Caryocaraceae

What it is like

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.

Height (m): 45

Where it is found

Deep loams and fertile sandy soils in riverside forests.

Northern S. America - Brazil to Guyana.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Seed - raw or cooked. The large, soft, white kernels have a delicious, rich, almond-like flavour and are enclosed in a hard shell. The seed contains over 60% fat. The kidney-shaped kernel is usually well over 5cm long and 2cm in diameter. The seed shell is about 7mm thick and difficult to crack. 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. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. Excellent for preparing bakery products. Fruit - cooked. The oily, yellow pulp is cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Oil: Oil

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The whole plant is used as a febrifuge.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Other

Rating: 2

Wood - hard and durable. 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.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

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.

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).

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

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.

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).

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A plant of the humid, lowland, tropical forests, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. 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.

Propagating it: Seed - takes 6 - 12 months to germinate. Grow young plants on in a sheltered position with some shelter from the sun.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Guiana nut, Butter-nut of Guiana, pekea-nut, or – like all other species of Caryocar with edible nuts – "souari-nut" or "sawarri-nut".

Synonyms

Caryocar tomentosum Willd. Caryocar tuberculosum (Aubl.) Baill. Pekea tuberculosa Aubl.