Lecythis

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Lecythis \Lec"y*this\ (l[e^]s"[i^]*th[i^]s), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 3
     an oil flask.] (Bot.)
     A genus of gigantic trees, chiefly Brazilian, of the order
     {Myrtace[ae]}, having woody capsules opening by an apical
     lid. {Lecythis Zabucajo} yields the delicious sapucaia nuts.
     {Lecythis Ollaria} produces the monkey-pots, its capsules.


     Its bark separates into thin sheets, like paper, used by the
     natives for cigarette wrappers.
     [1913 Webster]