White ucuba, Suriname virola
Virola surinamensis

Family: Myristicaceae

What it is like

A tall tree. It can grow 20 m tall. It can have tall buttresses. It can have prop roots. The branches are in groups of 3 or 4 and are horizontal. Leaves are alternate and regularly spaced. They are 60 cm long and leathery. The male flowers are in groups of 10-20 on woody shoots. The female flowers are in groups of 2-3 in the axils of leaves. The fruit are oval capsules. They occur singly or in pairs. They have rusty coloured hairs. The nuts are large in size.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in swamp and wet forests. It grows up to 700 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Antilles, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, Suriname (country/location of origin), Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The seeds are the source of an edible fat. It is used to flavour foods.

Edible parts

Seeds - oil, seeds - spice, aril - spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Andiroba, Baboen, Baboonwood, Bogamani, Brazil Nutmeg, False nutmeg, Fruta dorada, Miguelario, Pala laki-laki, Pohon pala suriname, Ucahuba-nut

Synonyms

Myristica fatua Sw. [Illegitimate]; Myristica fatua Houtt.; Myristica gracilis A. DC.; Myristica sebifera var. longifolia Lam.; Myristica surinamensis Rol. ex Rottb.; Palala gracilis (A. DC.) Kuntze; Palala surinamensis (Rol. ex Rottb.) Kuntze; Virola carinata var. gracilis Warb.; Virola glaziovii Warb.; Virola nobilis A. C. Sm.;