Ite Palm (Mauritia flexuosa) with fruit Iwokrama Rainforest Guiana Shield Guyana South America October

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The Moriche Palm (Mauritia flexuosa) is also known as the Ité Palm, Ita, Buriti, or aguaje (Peru). It grows in in tropical South America in wet areas. The inflorescence buds are eaten as a vegetable, and the sap can be drunk fresh or fermented. The fruit of a chestnut colour is covered with shiny scales. The yellow flesh covers a hard, oval, nut. The fruit is edible, has a high vitamin C content. It is used to make juice, jam, ice cream, and wine. An oil high in vitamin A is extracted from the pulp and is used to treat burns. Threads and cords are locally produced from the tree's fibers. Propagates by seeds floating in water. Red-bellied Macaw, Sulphury Flycatcher and Moriche Oriole, use it for nesting and food. Many ungulates, fish and monkeys depend on the fruit.

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Size: 3406px × 5120px
Location: Iwokrama Rainforest Guiana Shield Guyana South America October
Photo credit: © Krystyna Szulecka / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: aguaje, america, buriti, fruit, fruits, guiana, guyana, ita, ite, iwokrama, krystyna, leaf, leaves, mauritia, moriche, october, palm, pattern, patterns, plant, plants, shield, south, szulecka, texture, textures, tree, trees, trunk, trunks