Tree of Life, Buriti Nut
Mauritia flexuosa

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A very large palm about 22 m tall. The bark is grey-brown to black. The trunk is 30-50 cm across. The leaves are arranged in spirals and spread out like fingers on a hand. The leaf stalk forms a sheath at the top of the trunk. The leaf blade is 1.5 m x 3 m. It is shiny and dark green. The leaf stalk is 2.25 m long and 8-30 cm wide. It is light green. The fruiting stalk is 2.75 m long. It is reddish brown and the small stalks are 70 cm long. The fruit is oval and 45 cm x 4 cm. The fruit are red with yellow flesh. The fruit is covered with overlapping brown scales. These are arranged in a spiral. The pulp is reddish. The seed is oval and 2 cm x 2.5 cm. They are brown.

There are 2 Mauritia species. The fruit have 30-300 mg carotene per 100 g of pulp, which is equivalent to 50,000-500,000 IU of provitamin A. The mesocarp contains 5.2% protein. It has antioxidant properties and is rich in Vitamin A.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical regions. It suits the hot, humid tropical lowlands. It grows in large colonies in areas subject to periodic flooding. In Bolivia it grows up to 300 m altitude and occasionally to 400m. It can grow in acid soils. In Cairns Botanical Gardens. In Townsville palmetum. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten. The fruit are soaked in water to soften the outer layer which is then scraped off and the layer around the seed is eaten. They are also dried and converted into flour. The fruit are eaten cooked. The fruit are used for wine. The fruit yield an edible oil. The oily pulp of the fruit is boiled with sugar and made into a sweetmeat. The juice of the stem is used for a drink. The sap from the cut flower stalk is collected and used for wine. The trunk pith contains a starch similar to sago.

The fruit is an important part of the diet in the Amazon.

Edible parts

Fruit, nuts, stem-starch, sap, palm heart, oil, sago, cabbage, flower

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate erratically. Seeds take 2-6 months to germinate. The fresh fruit can be used directly as seeds. Seeds are only viable for a short time.

Plants only develop slowly. The fruit contain 8-9% edible oil.

Its other names

Local names

Achu, Aguaje, Boriti, Bority, Burati, Canangucho, Carandai-guazu, Caranday-guazu, Canangucha, Coqueiro-buriti, Cou ne'e, Guaish, Haukuaharu, Ita Palm, Ite palm, Mauriti palm, Mirisi, Miriti, Morete, Moriche, Morichi, Muricky, Muriti, Murity palm, Ne ni, Nontoka, Nontowe, Nushi-tiaja, Ohi arau, Ohidu, Palma real, Palmeira-buriti

Synonyms

Mauritia flexuosa var. venezuelana Steyerm.; Mauritia minor Burret; Mauritia setigera Griseb. & H. Wendl.; Mauritia sphaerocarpa Burret; Mauritia vinifera Mart.; Saguerus vinifera Mart.;