Plants

arara nut tree

Joannesia princeps Vell.

Family: Euphorbiaceae · Genus: Joannesia

anda-assu

Climax Emergent Mulch biomass

arara nut tree — Daderot · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Atlantic Forest emergent surviving 80+ years. Rebello highlights its key successional role: planted with embaúba (secondary I, 10–20 yr) and guapuruvu (secondary II, 30–50 yr); dandá outlives both, closing the abundance system as a long-lived emergent. Oil-rich (purgative) seeds.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Climax
Ecological role: Climax
Primary stratum: Emergent
Strata: Emergent
Biomass class: Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance: Moderate
Soil pH range: 5.2–6.6
Preferred soil texture: Clayey, Loamy

Morphology

Mature height: 20–35 m
Recommended spacing: 6–7 m
Root depth: Deep
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: ≥ 80 years
Time to first harvest: 36 months

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Native
Caatinga Native

Köppen classes

Tropical rainforest (Af) Suitable
Tropical monsoon (Am) Suitable
Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Arara nut tree takes the Emergent stratum in the Climax phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

Design my guild

Free account — and the catalog stays open, no sign-up needed.

🪴 Cultivation

Fast-growing species that favours well-drained red clay soils, pH around 5.2–6.6. Cultivable throughout Brazil from sea level to 1,700 m altitude. Withstands droughts of up to 4 months and tolerates periodic flooding. Grown in full sun or shade. Spacings of 6×6 m (subtropical) to 7×7 m (tropical). Seeds with 37% oil; germination in 40–60 days.

📅 Phenology

Fruiting months: January, February, March

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of arara nut tree?

The first harvest of arara nut tree comes around 36 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for arara nut tree?

The recommended spacing for arara nut tree is 6–7 m.

How tall does arara nut tree grow?

At maturity, arara nut tree reaches 20–35 m tall.

When does arara nut tree fruit?

Fruiting of arara nut tree occurs in January, February, March.

What stage and stratum does arara nut tree occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, arara nut tree belongs to the climax stage, occupying the emergent stratum.

Functions

Timber Oil seed 🌿 Biomass producer

Propagation

Seed

Citations

Rebello, J. F. S. (2018) — Princípios da Agricultura Sintrópica, EcoAgri , p. 21 (primary_stratum, gotsch_stage, ecological_role, lifespan_years_min)
Colecionando Frutas — Andá-açu (Joannesia princeps) (height_min_m, height_max_m, growth_rate, ph_min, ph_max, drought_tolerance, waterlogging_tolerance, light_need, soil_texture_preference, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, time_to_first_harvest_months, propagation, phenology, cultivation_notes, biomes)