Bertholletia

Bertholletia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lecythidaceae. It is monotypic, containing a single species, Bertholletia excelsa, commonly known as the Brazil nut tree. The genus is named in honor of the French chemist Claude-Louis Berthollet, while the species epithet translates roughly to “tall, lofty.”

Bertholletia excelsa is native to the Amazon Basin of northern South America, with natural populations in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia. It favors tropical lowland rainforest, often along river courses and in terra firme forests, from near sea level to about 400 meters elevation. The species forms very large, long-lived trees in these ecosystems.

The tree is evergreen and can reach considerable size, with a buttressed trunk and a broad crown. It produces a heavy, woody fruit capsule about 10–15 centimeters in diameter. When mature, the capsule splits open to reveal several seeds, commonly called Brazil nuts, arranged in a triangular cross-section within a hard shell. The seeds are widely consumed and traded, and the tree also plays a significant ecological role in its habitat.

Pollination is primarily carried out by large euglossine bees (orchid bees), which facilitate fruit set in this species. Seed dispersal is largely a function of gravity and animal scavenging after the fruit splits, with seeds often collected from the forest floor.

Uses and economic importance center on the edible seeds, Brazil nuts, which are a major export from the region. Brazil nut harvesting is frequently conducted from wild-standing trees in forests and is often part of community-based, sustainable forestry programs.

Conservation status: Bertholletia excelsa is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, though local populations may be affected by deforestation and habitat degradation. Sustainable management supports both biodiversity and regional economies.