Brazil: Nut

The Brazil nut of South America grows on a tree from 100 to 200 feet high.

The nuts as we buy them are shaped like the sections of an orange. Actually, they are seeds and not true fruits like chestnuts, walnuts and the nuts contained in a woody seed vessel. The native of the Brazilian forest used to protect their heads and shoulders with shields when walking under these trees since the woody seed vessel is quite heavy.

Inside the seed vessel are four divisions, and in each division lies a number of the triangulaar seeds that we call nuts. It usually takes a year for the seeds and their container to develop from flowers.

The nuts contain as much as 56 percent oil and was used in Brazil for lighting purposes.