Paradise nut or sapucia nut (Lecythis ollaria), a member of the lecythis family (Lecythidaceae) along with the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis).

Like the Brazil nut, the woody fruit (capsule) opens by a detachable lid (upper right), exposing the large seeds. It is related to a number of nut trees in South America, generally referred to as “monkey pots.”

New world monkeys apparently stick their hands into these large, pot like seed capsules to extract the seeds.

Paradise nuts (seeds) are rich in oil and have a pleasant taste similar to Brazil nuts. This large, spreading tree is native to the rain forests of Brazil.