MRYTACE.E. 



137 



BERTHOLLETIA, Ilunib. and Bonpl. Calyx l-partod. Corolla made 

 up of 4 fleshy petals. Stamens united at the base in 5 concentric 

 circles ; filaments thread-like, short. Stigma cruciform, sessile. Ovary 

 inferior, 4-5-celled. Inflorescence in terminal i»anicles. Fruit large, 

 globular, woody. Nuts numerous, obovoid, triangular. Leaves alter- 

 nate. Large tree. 



B. excelsa, Humb. and Bonpl. (Brazil Nut.) (Cannon-ball Tree.) Trunk 

 .3 to 4 feet in diameter, rising to tiie height of 150 feet, branching into a sym- 

 metrical head. Leaves 2 to 3 feet in length, broad, glabrous, prominently 

 veined underneath, leathery. Fruit subglobular. Shell or luisk woody, 6 inches 

 in diameter, 4-cened, each cell containing :i or 4 nuts an inch and a half long, 

 three quarters of an inch in diameter, the te.sta hard, horny, and rough, kernel 

 creamy white, oily, and possessing a delicate flavor. There is only one species 

 of this magnificent tree. 



Geography. — The geographical di.stribution of the Bertholletia is limited to 

 the tropical regions of South iVmerica, extending to the Isthmus of l*auama. 

 Large tracts along the Annxzon and the lower reaches of 

 its tributaries are covered by this gigantic tree. 



Etijmoloriji. — Bertholletia, the generic name, was given 

 to this plant by De Candolle in honor of Berthollet, a 

 celebrated chemist. Excelsa is from the Latin excehus, 

 grand, or lofty, due to the gigantic size and character of 

 the tree. Brazil Nut is named from Brazil, its home ; 

 Cannon-ball Tree, from the shape of the fruit. 



Historij. — At the time of harvest the natives ascend 

 the rivers and enter the vast groves to gather the crop. 

 For the same reason the vegetable-eating animals assem- 

 ble to secure their share of the delicious fruit. When 

 the great seed-vessels, weighing several pounds, fall from 

 the height of 60 to 100 feet and burst open as they strike 

 the ground, scattering the seed in the midst of the assem- 

 bled men and their monkey cousins, the imagination must 

 be drawn upon to picture the scene. Men, women, and children, monkeys 

 of all the Brazilian varieties, rodents, and other nut-eating brutes all rush to 

 secure the prize, and mingle in the scramble. The Indians club and pelt the 

 monkeys, while they in turn seize the unbroken balls, flee to the branches of 

 the trees, and hurl them at the heads of the Indians, thus presenting a feast, 

 frolic, and fight com])ined. 



The seed-vessels are forced open either by dashing them upon the ground or 

 striking them with mallets made for the purpose. The nuts are collected into 

 bags and baskets, carried down the rivers, and shipped to Europe and the 

 I'nited States from the seaports near the mouth of the Amazon, principally 

 from Para. 



Use. — The nut affords an important food to a large nuinlier of the inhabi- 

 tants of Brazil. It is an esteemed dessert, and though very indigestible, is 

 highly prized by children. The oil obtained from it is an excellent table and 

 salad oil ; it is also nnich used in the compounding of hair-dressings and for 

 illuminating and lubricating purposes. 



Statistics. — From I'ara alone it is estimated that upwards of two and a half 

 million fruits, yielding: about fifty million nuts, are exported annually, in 

 addition to the lar^e quant itics which leave other Brazilian harbors. 



Bertholletia 

 EXCELSA (Brazil Nut). 



