Conifer nuts are the edible seeds of conifers. The most notable of these are pine nuts (family Pinaceae), but also include Araucaria nuts (family Araucariaceae) and Torreya nuts (Family Taxaceae). If gnetophytes are nested within the conifers, this group would also include melinjo (Gnetum gnemon) nuts and the seeds of other Gnetum species. As all come from gymnosperms, these are only nuts in a culinary sense, not in a botanical sense.
"Many pine species bear edible nuts: the best known is the Mediterranean stone pine, Pinus pinea. Other nuts that were locally used, and are now traded, include Pinus edulis, in the southeast USA, and P. koraiensis in China. The similar nuts of another conifer, the monkey puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana, are collected in Chile."1 "Araucaria nuts are most commonly eaten cooked..."23
Pine nuts
Araucaria nuts
Araucaria bidwillii, Araucaria araucana, and Araucaria angustifolia
Torreya nuts
Torreya grandis, Torreya nucifera, Torreya californica, Torreya taxifolia (edible but not typically eaten due to being critically endangered)
Gnetum nuts
Gnetum gnemon, Gnetum africanum, Gnetum macrostachyum, Gnetum edule
References
References
- Derek Bewley, J.; Black, Michael; Halmer, Peter (2006). The Encyclopedia of Seeds: Science, Technology and Uses. ISBN 9780851997230. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
- The Visual Food Encyclopedia. Québec Amerique. 1996. ISBN 9782764408988. Retrieved 2015-07-24.
- Black, Michael; Pritchard, H. W. (May 2002). Desiccation and Survival in Plants: Drying Without Dying. ISBN 9780851997193. Retrieved 2015-07-24.