Sometimes, a law is just nuts!
By Chelsie Vandaveer
May 1, 2002
Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading—>Click here.
Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.
In Peru, it is illegal to cut down a Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia excelsa Humboldt and Bonpland). [ber thol let' ee a ex sel' sa] The well-meant law is to protect the Brazil nut industry. Consequently, the trees are left standing when all else has been clear-cut.
Brazil nut trees have a unique relationship with bees and orchids in the rainforests. The trees must be pollinated by the metallic-colored Euglossine bees, particularly the female bees. Only the females have sufficient strength to navigate the curled androecium (stamens) of the Brazil nut flowers.
Euglossine bees are best known as orchid bees since over 650 species of orchids depend upon the 175 species of Euglossines for pollination. But the orchids are pollinated only by the male bees. The male bees are attracted to the orchids by the osmophores, specialized scent-producing glands.
The male bees scrape the scent oils from the flowers. These scents either attract female bees or the males convert the scents to pheromones which attract the females. While the males are busy collecting the oils, the orchid attaches its pollinia (pollen sacs) to the back of the bee. The next flower the bee visits gets pollinated.
When the rainforest around Brazil nut trees is clear-cut, the male bees no longer have the orchids. The mating rituals of the Euglossines fail for lack of scents. The bees die out within a generation or two. Without the female Euglossines, the Bertholletia flowers do not get pollinated. The trees, protected by law to protect the nut industry, cease producing pods of Brazil nuts.
The New York Botanical Garden has a great herbarium drawing of Bertholletia excelsa. To view the drawing, click on the link:
http://www.nybg.org/bsci/braznut/Illustration.html 
Note the cross-sectional illustration of the tightly curled androecium (stamens) at the top of the page.
Series: | 1 | | 2 | | 3 |
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Sometimes, a law is just nuts! Renfield's Garden - May 1, 2002
Why are Brazil nuts dangerous to harvest? Weird Plants - May 2, 2002
How did the Brazil nut tree get its name? What's in a Name? - May 3, 2002
Killer Savings Links:
Breck's Bulbs -$25 off—>Click here.
Gurney's Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Henry Fields Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Gardens Alive! -$20 off—>Click here.
Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
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