Among the ranks of “ things not what they seem , ” Brazil nuts stand withmacadamia nut , almondsandwalnuts . Why ? Because none of them are truthful nuts . They ’re drupes , with a fleshy layer enclose shells hold their edible seeds . And the way Brazil freak drupes grow showcases how an ecosystem ’s plants , insects and animals can cooperate for the welfare of all .
The Trees
Brazil testicle trees ( Bertholettia excelsa ) column 100 to 150 feet tall above the Amazonian rainforest . Canopies of sheeny , mysterious gullible leaves assess up to 100 groundwork across crown their straight , gray - barked trunks . Flourishing in the forests ’ plenteous , well - run out soils , the trees are so drug-addicted on their ecosystem that cultivating them elsewhere is intimately unsufferable .
The Flowers
Brazil freak Tree blossom during summertime ’s dry season , typically between October and December . Each aurora , clusters of large , lidded pale - sensationalistic blossoms open at the ending of their ramification . By eventide , they ’re on the forest storey .
The Bees
Only Euglossine ( aka orchid ) bee are strong enough to spread out the lids of Brazil nut flowers ’ nectar chambers . In the process , they transfer pollen from the out stamen to the ovary within , creating the next generation of Brazil addict .
The Orchids
Before they can attract females , male Euglossine bee must collect fragrant chemicals from orchids growing near the Brazil nut case tree . Without this romance - stimulating “ perfume , “ the bees would die off , the trees would go unpollinated and the Brazil junky industry would collapse .
The Drupes
After pollination , a stone fruit needs between 12 and 18 calendar month to ripen . Mature drupe count from 2 to 4 pounds ( 2.2 to 4.4 kilo ) and resemble coconut encase in mahogany . Each outer shell house a layer of tough , fibrous cloth enveloping s chamber with up to two twelve tightly packed ballock . Ripe drupes hang to the ground with wondrous force .
The Agoutis
Without a way to disperse their seeds , Brazil nut trees would finally disappear . assistance number from a large , tough - masticate rodent , the agouti . After gnaw opened a ripe drupe and snacking on some nuts , the Dasyprocta aguti often cache the remnant in the soil . Those bury where sunlight can give them may eventually become tree .
The Threat
If any plant life demonstrate the struggle confronting innate ecosystem confront with encroaching modernization , it ’s the Brazil nut tree . Once common in the rainforest of :
Today , it ’s abundant only in Bolivia and Suriname . Sadly , it ’s listed as threatened with extinction in Brazil , where deforestation has sacrifice countless Brazil nut trees to make roads , bridges or farming and grazing lands .
