Mauritia flexuosa

Abstract

Along with açaí and peach palm, Mauritia flexuosa is one of the most important palms in Amazonia from various perspectives, including its role in aquatic ecosystems and its many cultural uses, especially fruit. Widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco Basins, this majestic palm towers over other palm species and can form dense stands, sometimes stretching for tens of kilometers. The vitamin-rich fruits are consumed locally and are also sent to urban areas. Eventually, the fruit pulp may penetrate international markets as well. In addition to fruit, the palm provides fiber for making hammocks and belts while petiole strips are woven into baskets. The beetle grubs extracted from the fallen trunks are a regional delicacy in both rural and urban areas especially in western Amazonia. The palm is planted in home gardens as well as in fields and is so entwined in the regional cultures that it often features in folklore.