| Caryocar | |
|---|---|
| Pekea-nut (Caryocar nuciferum) parts drawing | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Caryocaraceae |
| Genus: | Caryocar F.Allam. ex L. |
| Species | |
|
15, see text |
|
Caryocar (souari trees) is a genus of flowering plants, in the South American family Caryocaraceae. There are 15 species in this genus, all trees that yield a strong timber. Eight species within the genus Caryocar have edible fruits, called souari-nuts or sawarri-nuts[1]. 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.