Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A genus of South American trees of the order Myrtaceæ, tribe Lecythideæ.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Bot.) A genus of gigantic trees, chiefly Brazilian, of the order Myrtaceæ, having woody capsules opening by an apical lid. Lecythis Zabucajo yields the delicious sapucaia nuts. Lecythis Ollaria produces the monkey-pots, its capsules. Its bark separates into thin sheets, like paper, used by the natives for cigarette wrappers.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Prominent tree species include Lecythis odora, Lecythis turbinata, brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa, rare in this area), Cenostigma tocantina, Bombax tocantinum, and the large liana Bauhinia bombaciflora.

    Tocantins-Araguaia-Maranhão moist forests 2008

  • The almendro (Dipteryx panamensis) and the monkey pot tree (Lecythis ampla) are two outstanding and rapidly disappearing canopy emergents, which are regional endemics of the lowlands, below 250 m.

    Isthmian-Pacific moist forests 2010

  • Dr. Scott Mori holding fruits of the '' sapucaia '' ( '' Lecythis '' '' pisonis ''), a member of the Brazil nut family.

    Contributor: Scott A. Mori 2010

  • Dispersed in the grasslands are trees of Crecentia cujete, Ceiba pentandra, Lecythis minor, Ochroma pyramidale, Prosopis juliflora, Cavanillesia platanifolia and palms trees of Sabal mauritiiformis, Acrocomia aculeate, Attalea butyracea and several Bactris spp.

    Sinú Valley dry forests 2008

  • Emergent and canopy layers are rich in tree species of Leguminosae (Parkia pendula), Sapotaceae (Manilkara salzmanii) and Lecythidaceae (Lecythis pisonis).

    Pernambuco coastal forests 2008

  • The emergent and canopy layers are rich in tree species of Leguminosae (Dalbergia nigra, Caesalphinia echinata), Sapotaceae (Manilkara longifolia), Lecythidaceae (Lecythis lurida) and Chrysobalanaceae (Licania micrantha).

    Bahia coastal forests 2007

  • As an example of adaptations for pollination and dispersal, the pollination and dispersal systems of the sapucaia (Lecythis pisonis), a species native to eastern Amazonian Brazil and Atlantic coastal forests of Brazil, are described.

    Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) in the New World 2007

  • The bilaterally symmetrical flower of Lecythis pisonis.

    Brazil nut family (Lecythidaceae) in the New World 2007

  • … I counted no fewer than fourteen species of Lecythis in flower, and all but one new to me!

    One River Wade Davis 1996

  • … I counted no fewer than fourteen species of Lecythis in flower, and all but one new to me!

    One River Wade Davis 1996

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