Family · Asterids

Lecythidaceae

Brazil nut, cannonball tree

Mostly tropical trees with large woody fruits and showy flowers; includes the Brazil nut.

Accepted species: 401accepted names · Kew WCVP
Genera: 30accepted genera · Kew WCVP
Origin: ≈52 MaPaleogene · crown age, Jin & Qian 2022 megatree
Centre of diversity: Southern Americamost native species · WGSRPD

Open Lecythidaceae in the treePan, zoom and dig into its genera in the interactive view.

Plants you might know

Bertholletia (Brazil nut)
Couroupita (cannonball tree)
Barringtonia

Genera

Barringtonia73 spp.
Eschweilera66 spp.
Gustavia47 spp.
Scottmoria35 spp.
Couratari19 spp.
Chytroma18 spp.
Foetidia18 spp.
Grias17 spp.
Napoleonaea17 spp.
Rhaptopetalum13 spp.
Cariniana9 spp.
Allantoma8 spp.
Planchonia8 spp.
Imbiriba7 spp.
Guaiania5 spp.
Lecythis5 spp.
Pachylecythis5 spp.
Corythophora4 spp.
Crateranthus4 spp.
Scytopetalum4 spp.
Brazzeia3 spp.
Careya3 spp.
Couroupita3 spp.
Oubanguia3 spp.
Petersianthus2 spp.
Asteranthos1 spp.
Bertholletia1 spp.
Chydenanthus1 spp.
Pierrina1 spp.
Waimiria1 spp.

Where it grows

Southern America249
Asia-Tropical79
Africa66
Pacific10
Australasia6
Asia-Temperate5
Northern America1

Native species richness by botanical continent (WGSRPD level 1), from Kew WCVP.

Related families

Lecythidaceae sits in the order Ericales.