Paranöt – Bertholletia excelsa

Leaves are alternate,simple, leathery, coppery to bright green, lack stipules and have petioles 2-6cm long. Blade is oblong to elliptic, 17-45 cm long, 6-15 cm wide; apex rounded and acuminate; base rounded; margins wavy; veins prominent, especially on the leaf underside. Inflorescence is terminal or axillary panicle, 10-20 cm in length, with 10-40 subsessile, bisexual, globose flowers. The flower is ca. 3.9 × 3.6 cm, zygomorphic, with two to three sepals, and six yellowish petals. It bears a curled hood made of staminodes, that in association with the petals form a chamber which conceals stamens, stigma, and nectaries. The large size and strength of the hood restricts and selects flower visitors to medium- and large-sized bees strong enough to uncurl it. Fruit is a large, indehiscent, globose, woody capsule, 8-15 cm in diameter, weighing up to 2 kg and containing 15-25 seeds. Seeds are 3-4 cm long, angular, with hard, woody coat and thin, adhering testa, white kernel and a nutty texture.