Caryocar (souari trees) is a genus of flowering plants, in the South American family Caryocaraceae described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1771. It is native primarily to South America with a few species extending into Central America and the West Indies.
Caryocar consists of trees that yield a strong timber. Some of the species within the genus Caryocar have edible fruits, called souari-nuts or sawarri-nuts. 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.
Species
- Caryocar amygdaliferum <small>Mutis</small> - Colombia, Panama
- Caryocar amygdaliforme <small>G.Don</small> - Ecuador, N Peru
- Caryocar brasiliense <small>A.St.-Hil.</small> - Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay
- Caryocar coriaceum <small>Wittm.</small> - N Brazil
- Caryocar costaricense <small>Donn.Sm.</small> - Costa Rica
- Caryocar cuneatum <small>Wittm.</small> - Brazil
- Caryocar dentatum <small>Gleason</small> - NW Brazil, Bolivia
- Caryocar edule <small>Casar.</small> - Bahia, Rio de Janeiro
- Caryocar glabrum <small>(Aubl.) Pers.</small> - French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil
- Caryocar microcarpum <small>Ducke</small> - Lesser Antilles, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia
- Caryocar montanum <small>Prance</small> - Guyana, BolÃÂvar, Roraima
- Caryocar nuciferum <small>L.</small> - Pekea-nut, Butter-nut of Guinea - St. Kitts, St. Vincent, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, N Brazil
- Caryocar pallidum <small>A.C.Sm.</small> - NW Brazil, S Venezuela, Bolivia
- Caryocar villosum <small>(Aubl.) Pers.</small> - French Guiana, Venezuela, N Brazil, Colombia
References
External links