Caryocar brasiliense aka Pequi

Caryocar brasiliense, known as pequi, belongs to the Caryocaraceae family. Its native range spans Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. It grows in tropical lands with a marked dry season. In savannah valleys and on plateaux, it can form groves. Elsewhere, trees stand apart from one another. People gather its fruit from wild trees for local markets. Some also grow it as an ornamental tree.

Pequi grows as a shrub or small tree. It reaches about 20–33 feet [6–10 metres] tall. Its broad, rounded crown can spread 49 feet [15 metres]. The trunk bends and has a deep taproot beneath it. Growth is slow, and trees lose some or all leaves. The large, tough leaves have hairs and a palmate form. The pale yellow-white flowers have both male and female parts. Bats and insects pollinate them, and the tree is self-fertile.

The fruit has sweet, fleshy pulp with a strong scent. Its taste does not appeal to everyone. People eat it fresh or use it in sweets and liqueurs. They also cook the fruit and seed with rice. The seeds yield edible oil used to add flavour. Fine spines around the kernel can hurt the mouth. This makes the kernel hard to eat safely. Large trees may bear as many as 2,000 fruits.

Grow pequi in full sun, with room for its wide crown. It suits warm climates in the drier tropics and subtropics. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12. Wild trees endure dry seasons lasting three to five months. Once roots take hold, trees can cope with drought. They grow in poor soils, including heavy, iron-rich clay. Sandy and loamy soils also suit them. They accept mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline ground. Seeds may take a year to sprout without treatment.

Pequi provides food, oil, wood and shelter for wildlife. Its oil also goes into soap, cosmetics and lubricants. People use its wood for furniture, fences, building and fuel. The leaves, bark and pulp supply tannin. Local medicine uses the bark, flowers, fruit and seeds. These are reported traditional uses, not proof of safe treatment. Demand for regional foods and oil has increased wild harvesting. Useful Tropical Plants reports that this has led to overuse. The main stated eating hazard is injury from seed spines.