Mauritia flexuosa aka Tree Of Life

Mauritia flexuosa is an evergreen palm in the Arecaceae family. People call it buriti, moriche, or ita palm. Its native range runs from Trinidad into tropical South America. It grows in river swamps and on land that floods. Dense stands also grow in wet ground and gallery forests. People grow it for food, useful materials, and its form.

Most accounts give a height of 49–82 feet [15–25 metres]. One account reports trees reaching 115 feet [35 metres]. The crown can spread to 33 feet [10 metres]. A single, unbranched trunk supports a round crown of green leaves. The trunk reaches about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] across. Its bark ranges from gray-brown to black. The large, palmate leaves have stalks reaching 20 feet [6 metres]. Individual leaves can span about 10 feet [3 metres].

The flowers are yellow, and male and female flowers grow on separate trees. A lone tree cannot fertilize itself. The fruits have glossy scales over their fleshy pulp. Sources describe their color as chestnut brown or yellow-red. Each fruit measures about 1.6–2.4 inches [4–6 centimetres] long. A hard, oval seed sits inside the pulp. People eat the flesh fresh or dry it for flour. They also turn it into juice, jam, and fermented drinks. The fruit supplies edible oil, and the trunk supplies starch. People also eat the buds and flower clusters.

This palm needs a hot climate and ample water. It suits the tropics and warm subtropics. Grow it in full sun with water available all year. It accepts sandy, loamy, or clay soils, including poor soil. Acidic to neutral soil suits it, and very acidic ground is acceptable. It prefers moist or wet conditions. PFAF lists USDA zones 11–12. Growth accounts differ: PFAF and Useful Tropical Plants describe slow growth. PACSOA describes strong growth and roots that crowd nearby plants. Fresh seeds can take 90–150 days to sprout. Young plants grow slowly.

The broad crown gives this palm value as an ornamental tree. Its roots may compete with plants grown close to it. People use leaves for roofing and weave their fibers into household goods. These include nets, ropes, hammocks, hats, mats, and baskets. Leaf stalks and trunks also serve as building materials. Traditional remedies use its oil, pith, leaves, and sap. Reports describe oil use on burns and pith use for bowel illness. These uses do not establish medical safety or benefit. PFAF and Useful Tropical Plants report no known hazards.