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

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The Moriche Palm (Mauritia flexuosa) also known as the Ité Palm, Ita, Buriti, or aguaje (Peru). It grows in wet areas in tropical South America. The fruit (December-June) is covered with shiny, chestnut coloured scales. The yellow flesh covers a hard, oval, nut. Mauritia flexuosa has edible fruit with high vitamin C content. It is used to make juice, jam, ice cream, and alcoholic drink. An oil high in vitamin A is extracted from the pulp too and could be used to treat burns. Propagates by floating the seeds in water. Buriti oil is an orange-reddish oil extracted from the fruit of the Moriche palm. The oil contains high concentrations of oleic acid, tocopherols and carotenoids, especially β-carotene. Recently it has been found to filter and absorb cancer-causing UV rays from the sun. This tree is important to many animal species, several bird species, such as the 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: 3400px × 5120px
Location: Iwokrama Rainforest Guiana Shield Guyana South America October
Photo credit: © Krystyna Szulecka Photography / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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