Common Name: Paradise Nut

General Information

Paradise nut is a tall deciduous tree with a dense, globose crown, that usually grows 30 - 40 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 50 - 90cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is harvested from the wild as a source of food, medicines and various materials. Its seeds are greatly appreciated and are often gathered from the wild for local use, and are also sold in local markets[]. The wood is a high quality heavy duty timber and is harvested for commercial use. Some attempts to cultivate the tree for its seed have shown early promise[] and it is sometimes also grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

The fresh, ripe seed shell is said to contain a poisonous principle[].
The seeds are likely to contain toxic quantities of selenium when grown on soils high in selenium[].

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern and eastern Brazil, Peru.

Habitat

Fertile flood plains in the rainforest[]. Often found in groups, particularly in sunny positions on tops of hills[]. Found in all sorts of soil conditions[]. Usually found in dense primary forest, occasionally in more open situations[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	40.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a position in full sun or in dappled shade[, ]. Plants are probably not very fussy as to soil type[]. They can tolerate several months of waterlogging, as well as growing on the drier oxisols of terra firma[].
Unlike the related Brazil nut, which only produces its seeds towards the top of the tree, this species can fruit right down to the lower branches[].
The seeds take 18 months to mature after flowering[].
Initial growth of young trees is quite rapid, with 5 year old trees attaining a height of 4 metres[]. Trees have been known to produce their first crop in less than ten years from seed[].
Flowering is sporadic, some trees bearing every other year, others at 5 year intervals[].
Yields may be 12 - 20 fruits in the first fruiting year, with 81 fruits reported 2 years later[]. The average seed weight is 5.5 g, mature trees may yield around 80 kg of seeds annually[].
The average yield for mature trees on terra firma is less than 50 fruits per year, it is probably more for trees growing on the fertile flood plains[].
The fruits, which are suspended from the ends of branches, develop a perfectly fitting 'lid', which drops off as the nuts ripen, thus scattering the seeds[, ]. These fruits have been used as monkey traps. A bait is placed inside the empty fruit, which the monkey puts its hand inside to grab and then finds it cannot withdraw its hand (unless it releases the bait of course)[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw. Rich in oil, they are similar to the Brazil nut in size and shape[]. When ripe, the ivory-white kernels have a delicious flavour with a soft, almost creamy texture[, ]. The seeds are said to be sweeter than Brazil nuts, with a superior flavour and easier to digest[]. A very nutritious seed, containing about 63% oil or fat and 20% protein[]. Seeds are about 5cm long and 2.5cm thick[]. The shell is thin and easily broken, when quite fresh, however, this shell is said to contain a poisonous principle[].

An edible oil can be obtained from the seed[]. Pale yellow in colour, suggestive of almond oil in both taste and smell[]. The harmful seed coat must be removed before extraction of the oil[].

Medicinal

Infusions of the bark and pericarp are used in local medicine for treating liver complaints[].

Other Uses

An oil obtained from the seed is used for making soap and as an illuminant[].

The hard wooden 'fruits' that contain the seeds are put to various domestic or kitchen uses[]. By cutting them away slightly at the stalk end they can be made to stand upright[].

The tough and fibrous bark consists of a succession of thin layers which can be peeled off and used locally as cigarette wrappers[].

The heartwood is red-brown; it is clearly demarcated from the 2 - 10cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or interlocked.The wood is heavy to very heavy; moderately hard to very hard; tough; elastic; very durable if not in the soil, being resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites. It seasons slowly, with only a slight risk of distortion, but a high risk of checking; once dry it is poorly stable in service. The wood has a high blunting effect and is difficult to work, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is correct. Because of its hardness, the wood is not extensively used traditionally, but is a very good heavy duty construction timber that is employed for outdoor purposes such as railway sleepers, roofing shingles, bridges, stakes, props etc, as well as for parquet floors, tool handles, construction and general carpentry[, , , ].

Propagation

Seed - it only has a short period of viability so should be sown as soon as it is ripe[].
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in individual containers. A moderate germination rate can usually be expected, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 70 days[].
Seeds germinate within 7 - 10 days and initial growth is rapid, attaining 60 cm after 1 year[].

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