This is a brief overview of Maya Nut ecology and reproductive ecology. More information can be found in our library. Maya Nut’s scientific name is Brosimum alicastrum. It is one of 13 species in the genus Brosimum, in the fig family (Moraceae). It is naturally distributed in tropical dry and tropical humid forests from Mexico to Brazil at altitudes between 0 to 1,500 meters above sea level. Maya Nut is more commonly found in forests, secondary or old growth, that have had a history of disturbance at some point in the last 200-300 years. Despite its preference for shade during establishment under natural conditions, we have had great success establishing Maya Nut seedlings in full sun and recommend doing so when appropriate for your site, because planting in full sun and controlling competition from weeds can result in earlier fruiting (at 4 years). Maya Nut has an enormous range, from Northern Mexico (Sonora State) to northern Brazil and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad, Cuba, and Jamaica. It tolerates a wide range of soil types, rainfall regimes, and topography. It seems to prefer limestone, lateritic and volcanic soils and will thrive on very rocky, thin, dry, and marginal soils where other species won’t grow. Morphologically it is also extremely variable, and trees can have fluted or buttressed trunks, smooth or flaking bark, grey, red, or white bark, spreading or hanging branches, red, green, yellow, or orange fruits, green, purple, or black seeds, and be monoecious, dioecious or hermaphroditic. Maya Nut is often mistakenly said to prefer steep hillsides, ravines, and riparian areas. This is only because humans have destroyed Maya Nut forests on flat land to make room for crops. Today throughout its range the only Maya Nut forests remaining (outside protected areas) are along creeks and rivers, in ravines, and in the steepest and remotest terrain. Historically Maya Nut forests were commonly found on flat sites far from rivers and creeks.