Chilian Nut

Chilian Nut (Guevina Avellana) - An evergreen tree of about 30 feet in its native land, and here confined to favoured gardens in Devon and Cornwall, the finest specimen in Britain being probably at Greenway on the River Dart, where it flowers and fruits freely. The blossoms, at their best in September, are carried as erect spikes of about 4 inches, each spike holding about a score of small ivory-white flowers with reflexing petals and protruding stamens. Although freely borne, they are not at all showy, the feature of the tree being its fruits, over 2 inches in circumference, which become red and eventually purple. They contain Almond-like seeds of mild and somewhat oily taste, which are eaten in Chili and Peru, where the fleshy envelope is made a substitute for the Pomegranate. The foliage is very handsome, the great leaves, often 2 feet in length, being divided into many deep green leaflets. Increase by layers and by seeds—which, however, do not germinate freely.

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