Caryocar (souari trees) is a genus of flowering plants, in the South American family Caryocaraceae described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1771. It is native primarily to South America with a few species extending into Central America and the West Indies.
Caryocar consists of trees that yield a strong timber. Some of the species within the genus Caryocar have edible fruits, called souari-nuts or sawarri-nuts. The most well-known species is probably the Pekea-nut (C. nuciferum). In Brazil the Pequi (C. brasiliense) is most popular; it has a variety of uses, not the least among them being the production of pequi oil. Furthermore, some species are used by indigenous peoples to produce poisons for hunting.
Species
Caryocar amygdaliferum Mutis - Colombia, Panama
Caryocar amygdaliforme G.Don - Ecuador, N Peru
Caryocar brasiliense A.St.-Hil. - Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay
Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. - N Brazil
Caryocar costaricense Donn.Sm. - Costa Rica
Caryocar cuneatum Wittm. - Brazil
Caryocar dentatum Gleason - NW Brazil, Bolivia
Caryocar edule Casar. - Bahia, Rio de Janeiro
Caryocar glabrum (Aubl.) Pers. - French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil
Caryocar microcarpum Ducke - Lesser Antilles, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia
Caryocar montanum Prance - Guyana, Bolívar, Roraima
Caryocar nuciferum L. - Pekea-nut, Butter-nut of Guinea - St. Kitts, St. Vincent, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, N Brazil
Caryocar pallidum A.C.Sm. - NW Brazil, S Venezuela, Bolivia
Caryocar villosum (Aubl.) Pers. - French Guiana, Venezuela, N Brazil, Colombia
