Caryodendron orinocense, commonly known as cacay, inchi or orinoconut, is an evergreen tree belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae.

This species of flowering plant is indigenous to the north-west of South America, particularly from the drainage basins of the Orinoco and Amazon rivers located in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil.

Originally described by Hermann Karsten in 1858, the cacay tree distinguishes itself by its dense and leafy top, as well as its production of fruits, each one containing three edible nuts.

Its female inflorescence is a terminal ear, also with greenish flowers ranging between 2.5–3.5 millimetres (0.098–0.138 in) in diameter, containing large and persistent bracts.

[12] In Colombia, cacay is distributed across the Piedemonte llanero[notes 3] in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains.

[20][23] Cacay can also be found in Ecuador, Peru and Brazil in the western part of the Amazon river watershed.

[23] Cacay develops best in warm climates and in low-altitude plains, with average temperatures of 22–28 °C (72–82 °F) and relative humidity of 70-90%.

[3] Under natural conditions, the reproduction of cacay is sexual; its seeds germinate well on the ground, one to two weeks after falling from the tree.

[2][28] A study conducted in 2012 by Judith García and Carmen Basso concluded that cacay seeds tolerate up to eight days of storage before losing viability, preferably in temperatures of 12–13 °C (54–55 °F).

[15][21] Cacay can be planted in bags in a nursery for approximately one year, until the tree reaches a height of about 50 centimetres (20 in).

[15] Some plantations associate the cacay tree with another crop that may provide a live vegetable groundcover,[notes 4] for example kudzu.

[21] The full value proposition of this oil for cosmetic purposes is still being developed; however, various studies (Pérez 2001, Ortega Álvarez 2014) have already remarked on the future potential of cacay in this field.

[23][30] Within the domain of agroforestry, cacay trees may be introduced into areas that are not adequate for intense agricultural and cattle raining activities.

[21] Lastly, the nut's press cake can also serve as food for cattle due to its high content of proteins and minerals.

[21] Cacay has been identified as one of the several trees indigenous to the Eastern Plains region of Colombia that may serve in the ecological restoration of areas of the savanna containing invasive species of grasses such as brachiaria humidicola.