Coquilla nuts, the hard inner portion ("stone") of the palm, Attalea funifera, the piassaba of Brazil, are highly valued for turnery purposes. They have an elongated oval form, 3 to 4 in. in length, and being intensely hard they take a fine polish, displaying a richly streaked brown colour.
The marking nut, Semecarpus Anacardium, is a fruit closely allied in its source and properties to the cashew nut (q.v.). The marking nut is a native of the East Indies, where the extremely acrid juice of the shell of the fruit in its unripe state is mixed with quicklime and used as a marking-ink. The juice when dry is the basis of a valuable caulking material and black varnish. The seeds are edible, and the source of a useful oil.
Physic nuts are the produce of the euphorbiaceous tree, Ja tropha Curcas, whence a valuable oil, having similar purgative properties to castor oil, is obtained. The plant is a native of South America, but is found in ali tropical countries.
Pine nuts are the seeds of several species of Pinus, eaten in the countries of their growth, and also serving to some extent as sources of oil. Of these the most important are the stone pine, Pinus Pinea, of Italy and the Mediterranean coasts, and the Russian stone pine, Pinus Cembra. Pinus Sabiniana, the digger
pine of California; P. edulis, P. monophylla, P. Parryana, and P. cembroides, the "pirions" of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico; and also P. Gerardiana of the Himalayas simi larly yield edible seeds. These seeds possess a pleasant, slightly resinous flavour.
Ravensara nuts, the fruit of Ravensara aromatica (Lauraceae), a native of Madagascar, is used as a spice under the name of the Madagascar clove nutmeg.
The Sapucaia nut is produced by a large tree, Lecythis 011aria. Its specific name is taken from the large urn-shaped capsules, called "monkey-pots" by the inhabitants, which contain the nuts. The sapucaya nut has a sweet flavour, resembling the almond, and is of a rich amber-brown ; not unlike the Brazil nut.
Soap nuts are the fruits of various species of Sapindus, espe cially S. saponaria, natives of tropical regions. They are so called because their rind or outer covering contains saponin, which lathers in water, and so is useful in washing.