– **Fruits and Seeds**:
– Lecythis is a genus in the Lecythidaceae family, native to Central and South America.
– Several species produce edible seeds known as paradise nut, monkey pot, cream nut, and sapucaia nut.
– Edible species include Lecythis zabucajo, L. ollaria, and L. pisonis.
– The fruit is coconut-sized, woody, and contains 8 to 40 seeds.
– Oil extracted from the nuts is used for making soap and as a light source.
– **Monkey Pot**:
– Monkey pot is a common name for trees in the genus Lecythis.
– The name comes from the pot-like fruit that holds seeds.
– Young monkeys get their paws stuck in the fruit while trying to grab nuts.
– Lecythis ollaria and Lecythis zabucajo are notable species.
– The fruits are sought after due to the seeds they contain.
– **History**:
– Lecythis was brought to Singapore as an experimental economic plant due to its oil-rich seeds.
– Jean-Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet discovered Lecythis zabucajo in French Guiana.
– Aublet’s findings were published in Histoire des Plantes de la Guyane Françoise in 1775.
– **References**:
– The Kew World Checklist lists selected plant families, including Lecythis.
– Pehr Loefling described Lecythis in 1758.
– Various sources provide information on the health benefits and uses of Monkey Pot.
– References from Encyclopedia Britannica, Guyana Chronicle, and National Parks Board are available.
– Additional information can be found on websites like Health Benefits Times and Tradewindsfruit.
– **External Links**:
– A website offers an exhaustive list of links related to Lecythidaceae.
– The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants, Volume VI, provides detailed information.
– The article on Lecythidaceae is a stub on Wikipedia.
– The page can be expanded to include more information.
– Categories include Lecythis, Ericales genera, and Lecythidaceae stubs.