I Speak For The Trees

Mani del Monte, growing at Union Base, Pastaza Province. This vining plant from the Euphorbia familiy produces distinctive, star-shaped green fruits that have edible seeds, of similar flavour to almondy peanuts.  Many Quichua families apparently grow this for the seeds, which are high in protein and oils.  One fruit contains six “nuts” and is fairly easy to peel with a knife. 

The fruits may have between four and seven points, and the seeds inside are very high in the omega-fatty acids.  It is being investigated as an oil crop in Peru.