Wild Cashew

Botanical name: Anacardium exelsum (Anacardiaceae)

PLENTY OF HELP TO SEE, HEAR AND RESIDE

Wild Cashew is one of the largest trees in the jungle. The Spanish name of the Wild Cashew; “Espave” is an abbreviation of the Spanish words “es para ver”, “use to see”. The Indians have used these bushy, crowned giant trees as observation towers. Wild Cashew can reach 50 m (164 ft) in height and 3 m (10ft) in trunk diameter. The Indians build canoes of Wild Cashew trunks. The wood is also valued furniture material.

THE STAR FLOWERS AND DANGEROUSLY DELICIOUS FRUITS

Wild Cashew blooms from February to April and the fruits ripen from March to May. The flowers are small stars with a pleasant scent. The fruits are 2-3.5 cm (0.7-1.3 inch) long, nutlike and with the shape of S. Wild Cashew belongs to the same family of the cashew nut tree (Anacardium occidentale). The nuts of Wild Cashew are a treat for monkeys but raw nuts contain oil poisonous for man. Roasted nuts are free from the poison and as tasty as their relatives, cashew nuts.