# Nickernut (*Guilandina bonduc*) Nickernut is a special plant with bright yellow flowers and round, hard seeds. It grows in warm places and can climb on other plants, making it look like a green curtain in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Bonduc, Gray Nicker ![Nickernut](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Caesalpinia_bonduc_inflo.jpg&width=800) Photo: Pancrat, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caesalpinia_bonduc_inflo.jpg) ## Appearance The Nickernut is a thorny, scrambling shrub or vine with compound leaves. It produces small, vibrant yellow flowers in racemes. Its most distinctive feature is its hard, smooth, often greyish-brown seeds, commonly called 'sea beans'. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Guilandina ## Interesting facts - Ancient mariners believed carrying a Nickernut seed brought them good luck and protection. - Finding a Nickernut seed washed up on a beach means it traveled a long, ocean journey! - Its super tough seeds were once used by sailors as buttons! - People in some cultures traditionally use Nickernut seeds as marbles for games. ## Special abilities - **Ocean Traveler:** Nickernut has incredibly buoyant seeds that can float for months, helping it travel across oceans to new shores. - **Thorny Protector:** Nickernut plants are covered in sharp, recurved thorns that help protect its stems and leaves from hungry herbivores. - **Nitrogen Fixer:** Nickernut can draw nitrogen from the air and put it into the soil, acting like a natural fertilizer for itself and neighbors. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer_fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Buzzes around the flowers, aiding in pollination. - **Shelter:** [Sanderling](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sanderling) (*Calidris alba*) — Small birds might find temporary shelter in dense thickets. ## Traits - [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not eat the seeds, as they can be harmful. Always look but don't touch! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Nickernut? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Nickernut? 200-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on Nickernut? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Nickernut bloom? Summer_fall ### Is Nickernut edible? No ### Is Nickernut toxic? Mild ### What is Nickernut's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is Nickernut pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [McKee Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mckee-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Monroe Lake Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monroe-lake-archeological-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Palma Sola Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palma-sola-botanical-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Sandsprit Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sandsprit-park) — Florida, US · Park - [Cayo Costa State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cayo-costa-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see Nickernut](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/nickernut) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Nickernut: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nickernut)