Biology:Cashew of Pirangi

From HandWiki
Short description: Largest known cashew tree
View of the world's largest cashew tree.
View from intersecting road Rota do Sol (en: Route of the Sun).
View of the interior with individuals for size comparison.

The Cashew of Pirangi (Cajueiro de Pirangi), also called the world's largest cashew tree (maior cajueiro do mundo), is a cashew tree in Pirangi do Norte, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.[1] In 1994, the tree entered the Guinness Book of Records.[1] It covers an area between 7,300 square metres (1.8 acres)[2] and 8,400 square metres (2.1 acres).[3] Having the size of 70 normally sized cashew trees,[3][4] it has a circumference of 500 m (1,600 ft).[4] The vicinity of the World's Largest Cashew Tree in North Pirangi is also a main place for the sale of lace and embroidery in Rio Grande do Norte state.[5]

The spread over a hectare of land was, unlike other trees, created by the tree's outward growth. When bent towards the ground (because of their weight), the branches tend to take new roots where they touch the ground.[6][7] This may be seen in the images of the interior. It is now difficult to distinguish the initial trunk from the rest of the tree.[8]

The tree is said to have been planted in 1888.[1] However, based on its growth characteristics, "the tree is estimated to be more than a thousand years old."[6] The tree produces over 60,000 fruits each year.[9][10]

Flávio Nogueira, Jr., the state secretary of tourism for Piauí, has claimed that another cashew tree in the municipality of Cajueiro da Praia in Piauí is, in fact, the largest tree, covering an area of 8,800 square metres (2.2 acres). That tree was studied by a laboratory from the State University of Piauí.[11]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Natal Tourist Attractions: Sightseeing and Attractions in Natal Area, Brazil", World-Guides.
  2. Box, Ben (2003). South American handbook, Volume 80, p.512. ISBN:978-1-903471-70-8.
  3. 3.0 3.1 M. Angela A. Meireles (2008). Extracting Bioactive Compounds for Food Products: Theory and Applications, p.332. ISBN:978-1-4200-6237-3.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Margaret Kelly, ed. (2008). Fodor's Brazil, p.453. ISBN:978-1-4000-1966-3.
  5. Various authors. Artes e rituais do fazer, do servir e do comer: No Rio Grande do Norte (Art and Ritual of Making and Serving Food: In Rio Grande do Norte), p.44. ISBN:978-85-7458-251-1. (in Portuguese)
  6. 6.0 6.1 Clay, Jason W. (2004). World agriculture and the environment: a commodity-by-commodity guide to impacts and practices, p.264. ISBN:978-1-55963-370-3. Cites Morton, Julia. (1987). "Cashew Apple", Farofa of Warm Climates, p.239-249. Miami, FL. Creative Resource Systems, Inc.
  7. "Maior cajueiro do mundo ", BrazilTravelBuddy.com.
  8. Felippe, Gil (2004). Frutas: sabor à primeira dentada (Fruit: Taste the First Bite), p.48. ISBN:978-85-7359-421-8. (in Portuguese)
  9. Let's Go, Inc. (2003). Let's Go Brazil, p.6. ISBN:978-0-312-32004-1.
  10. Waggoner, John. Northeastern Brazil : The Dende Coast, Chapada Diamantina, the Marau Peninsula, the Cocoa Coast, Penambuco & Beyond. ISBN:978-1-58843-956-7. Same text & author: ISBN:978-1-58843-676-4.
  11. Cidade Verde (2016-02-05). "Setur confirma cajueiro no Piauí como o maior do mundo com 8.800m²" (in Portuguese). 

External links

[ ⚑ ] 5°58′43″S 35°07′24″W / 5.978657°S 35.123372°W / -5.978657; -35.123372