Pendula nut, Drooping couepia
Couepia longipendula
Family: Chrysobalanaceae
What it is like
An evergreen tree. It grows 4-30 m high. The trunk is erect and 10-40 cm across. The crown is dense. The leaves are simple and leathery. They are 8-18 cm long and bright green and shiny on the upper surface. The nut has a very hard shell. The flowers are in hanging groups on the end of very long stalks. The stalks can be 1 m long. The flowers are showy and pink and have both sexes. The fruit have long fruit stalks. The fruit are oval and have a thick fibrous skin. They contain one seed or nut. The fruit are 6-7 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. Probably now Acioa longipendula (PIlg.) Sothers & Prance
There are 71 Couepia species. They are all in tropical America.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows naturally in dryland tropical forest in the central Amazon in Brazil. It grows between 50-400 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Amazon, Brazil (country/location of origin), Colombia, Guiana, Peru, South America
How it is used for food
The seed or nut is eaten fresh, roasted or toasted. The kernels are rich in oil. They have an excellent flavour. The oil is used in cooking.
The nuts are sold in local markets. They are popular locally. It is cultivated for the kernels.
Edible parts
Seeds, seeds - oil, nuts
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. The seeds are collected from ripe fruit and the fibrous covering removed. Seed should be planted fresh. In cultivation it is a low spreading tree.
The nut is 75-80% oil.
Its other names
Local names
Ayuirai, Castanha-de-galinha, Casranha de galinha, Castanha pendula, Cenizo, Eggnut, Huevo de danta