Maya nut

This tall tree, also called breadnut tree, grows 25 to 45 metres in height. Its trunk can grow larger than 150 cm in diametre. It is greyish to light brown in colour and contains a large amount of white sap. Its bark is thin and has leaf scars and irregular growth rings.

The flowers of the Maya nut are grouped in globular inflorescences that are 1 cm in diametre.

The fruit is a globular syncarp (a false drupe) that grows between 2 and 4 cm in diametre. It is yellowy orange in colour when ripe and generally contains one large seed which occupies a large portion of the fruit’s interior. The flesh is edible though relatively sparse compared to the size of the seed.