Oiticica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oiticica |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Licania
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| Species: |
rigida
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The oiticica (scientific name: Licania rigida) is a special kind of plant that grows as a tree. It belongs to the Chrysobalanaceae family. This tree is found only in certain places, meaning it is endemic to Brazil and Puerto Rico.
Oiticica trees often grow near rivers and streams where floods happen. They form long, narrow lines along the edges of these waterways. Their large, thick leaves are a dark green color, making them easy to spot.
Contents
What Does the Oiticica Tree Look Like?
The Licania rigida is usually a tree that can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 15 meters (about 49 feet) high.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
- Leaves: The leaves grow in an alternating pattern along the branches. Each leaf is about 12 centimeters (almost 5 inches) long and 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) wide. They are very stiff and leathery, which means they are tough and strong.
- Flowers: The flowers are small, only about 3 millimeters (a tiny bit more than 0.1 inch) across. They are yellow and grow in clusters that look like spikes on the branches.
- Fruit: The fruit of the oiticica tree is a type of drupe, which is a fleshy fruit with a hard pit inside, like a peach or a cherry. It can be shaped like a spindle (thicker in the middle and tapering at both ends) or oval. The fruit ranges from 2 to 7 centimeters (about 0.8 to 2.8 inches) long. Even when the fruit is ripe, its skin stays green. However, when it dries, it turns a dark yellow color.
Wood and Seeds
The wood of the oiticica tree is white. Its fibers are woven together, making the wood very strong and resistant to being crushed.
In the past, the most valuable part of the oiticica tree was its seeds. These seeds are very rich in oil, containing about 60% oil! This oil was useful for making paints and varnishes. On average, one oiticica tree can produce about 75 kilograms (about 165 pounds) of nuts in one season. Some very special trees have even produced as much as 1,500 kilograms (about 3,300 pounds) of nuts!
How Oiticica is Used
The nuts from the oiticica tree are used to make something called oiticica oil, especially in Brazil.
Oiticica Oil Uses
Oiticica oil is sometimes used as a replacement for other oils like tung oil or linseed oil. This usually happens when those other oils are too expensive to use.
However, oiticica oil has some differences:
- It is much darker in color than tung or linseed oil.
- It can turn into a thick, semi-solid paste when it's at room temperature. This means it needs to be heated up before it can be used properly.
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