What is the scientific name of the Brazil nut tree?

The scientific name of the Brazil nut tree is Bertholletia excelsa. It is the only species in the genus Bertholletia and belongs to the Lecythidaceae family, a group that also includes several other tropical trees.

This towering Amazonian tree can reach about 50 meters in height and may live for centuries. Its large, woody fruit resembles a coconut-sized capsule and contains numerous seeds, the edible Brazil nuts. The fruit falls intact to the forest floor, where agoutis use their powerful teeth to open it. These rodents eat some seeds and bury others, helping disperse and regenerate the trees.

The species has an important ecological relationship with rainforest pollinators. Its flowers are difficult to access, and effective pollination depends on large-bodied bees capable of navigating their complex structure. This is one reason Brazil nut trees generally produce poorly in simplified plantations compared with intact forest.

The genus name Bertholletia honors French chemist Claude Louis Berthollet. The species name excelsa means “tall” or “lofty,” reflecting the tree’s remarkable stature.