Lecythidaceæ

Lecythidaceæ, a natural order of exogenous plants, or sub-order of Myrtaceæ, the distinguishing characteristic being that the fruit is a large woody capsule, with a number of cells, which in some species remains closed, and in some opens with a lid. All the known species, about forty, are natives of the hottest parts of South America. Brazil Nuts (q.v.) and Sapucaia Nuts (q.v.) are the seeds of trees of this order. The Cannon-ball Tree (q.v.) belongs to it.