1 oz. Peruvian MEDIUM HUAYRURO MACHO SEEDS, Drilled H
Click photo for enlargement.
Native Americans throughout the Amazon basin have long used the seeds and nuts of a variety of trees and plants make necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry. This one-ounce lot includes about 35 seeds of the Amazonian huayruro plant (Ormosia spp.). All are red with a black spot (O. amazonicas), called huayruro macho and considered "male" in contrast to the solid red variety (O. macrocalyx), huayruro hembra, considered "female." Both varieties are popular beading seeds in Peru. They are said to promote health and to bring luck to their wearers.
These huayruros have an irregular lentil shape. Huayruros are commonly graded into three sizes, though because they are natural seeds, their size varies somewhat within the grades. Those of this lot average roughly 10 x 8 x 6 mm. They were hand-drilled by Peruvian crafts people. The holes run horizontally, along the length of the seeds, and are small, about 1 mm or less in diameter.