Cryptocarya alba, the peumo or Chilean acorn, is an evergreen tree that grows in central Chile from 33 to 40° southern latitude, with the southernmost distribution in northern Los Lagos Region. It can live both in wet and in dry conditions. Its distribution can reach up to 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level. It measures up to 20 meters (65 ft) height and one meter diameter, with cracked gray bark. An associate tree is the endangered Chilean Wine Palm, Jubaea chilensis, which species prehistorically had a much wider range.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it poisonous?
We have no record of Chilean Acorn being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Beilschmiedia berteroana
- Beilschmiedia miersii
- Quillaja saponaria
- Myrceugenia exsucca
- Garrya ovata
- Azara integrifolia
Classification
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Laurales
- Family
- Lauraceae
- Genus
- Cryptocarya
- Species
- Cryptocarya alba
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