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Plants

moriche palm

Mauritia flexuosa L.f.

Family: Arecaceae · Genus: Mauritia

buriti, ité palm

Climax Emergent No biomass production
JR Ferrer-Paris · CC BY · iNaturalist

Giant palm of Cerrado wetlands (veredas) and Amazonian floodplains. Pasini lists it in the emergent stratum of Tabela 3. A water indicator: forms populations on hydromorphic soils, protecting springs. Fruit, fiber, and thatch of high traditional economic value.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Climax
Ecological role
Climax
Primary stratum
Emergent
Strata
Emergent
Biomass class
No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
High
Drought tolerance
Low
Waterlogging tolerance
High
Soil pH range
3.5–5.5
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
11–13

Morphology

Mature height
20–35 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Shallow
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
≥ 70 years
Time to first harvest
96 months

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Moriche palm takes the Emergent stratum in the Climax phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent · ≈35 m High Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Dioecious palm (needs male and female individuals to fruit) of veredas and valley-bottom marshes; thrives on poorly drained hydromorphic soils. Prefers 2,000-4,500 mm/yr; in drier regions requires constant water. Acid soil (optimum pH 4-5). Seeds germinate in 90-150 days with slow early growth. Produces 5-7 bunches/yr, each with 400-500 fruits.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: April, May, June, July, August

Fruiting months: December, January, February, March, April, May, June

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of moriche palm?

The first harvest of moriche palm comes around 96 months after planting.

How tall does moriche palm grow?

At maturity, moriche palm reaches 20–35 m tall.

When does moriche palm fruit?

Fruiting of moriche palm occurs in December, January, February, March, April, May, June.

When does moriche palm flower?

Flowering of moriche palm occurs in April, May, June, July, August.

What stage and stratum does moriche palm occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, moriche palm belongs to the climax stage, occupying the emergent stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit Oil seed Fiber Ornamental Ritual

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Flora e Funga do Brasil — Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (family, genus, scientific_author, biomes, flora_do_brasil)
  3. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (external_ids, powo_id)
  4. PFAF Plant Database — Mauritia flexuosa (ph_min, ph_max, waterlogging_tolerance, root_system, root_depth, soil_texture_preference, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, cultivation_notes)
  5. Embrapa / UFG — Fenologia, produção e pós-colheita de frutos de buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) em veredas do cerrado de Goiás (phenology, cultivation_notes)

External references

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