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Native Americans throughout the Amazon basin have long used the seeds and nuts of a variety of trees and plants to make necklaces, bracelets and other jewelry. This one-ounce lot includes about 90 seeds of the Amazonian huayruro plant (Ormosia spp.). All are solid red (O. macrocalyx), called huayruro hembra and considered "female" in contrast to the those red with a black spot (O. amazonicas), huayruro macho, considered "male." Both varieties are popular beading seeds in Peru. They are said to promote health and to bring luck to their wearers.

These huayruros were drilled by Peruvian crafts people. They 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. The small huayruro hembra of this lot are somewhat larger than the small huayruro macho. They are roughly 10 x 8 x 6 mm. The holes are drilled horizontally, from one end to the other, and are small, about 1 mm in diameter.

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