Attalea phalerata | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Arecales |
Family: | Arecaceae |
Genus: | Attalea |
Species: | A. phalerata
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Binomial name | |
Attalea phalerata | |
Synonyms | |
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Attalea phalerata is a species of palm tree known by the English common name urucuri palm, the Portuguese common name urucurizeiro, and the Spanish common name shapaja. [1] Other common names include motacu [2] and bacuri. [3] It is native to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru, [1] where it grows along southern and western Amazonia. [4] It is the most common palm tree on the Pantanal. [5]
This palm grows up to 18 metres (59 ft 1 in) tall, the trunk rarely reaching more than 4 metres (13 ft 1 in). [6] [7] It has up to 30 feather-like leaves. [7] The bright orange fruits are up to 11 centimetres (4.3 in) long. [7]
This palm species is of ecological importance and grows in many types of forest; individuals become fertile at 7-10 years of age (1 m height). [6] Flowering occurs throughout the year and fruiting twice per year. [6] The seeds are dispersed by tapirs, which swallow the fruits whole, [8] and by rheas, agoutis, spiny rats of genus Clyomys, and caracaras. The hyacinth macaw consumes the seeds and may disperse them, as well. [3] The sheaths of the palm often accumulate the seeds of other plants, which are sometimes deposited there by Artibeus jamaicensis, a frugivorous bat. The seeds sometimes germinate there and grow as epiphytes on the palm tree. [5] This palm tree is commonly pollinated by sap beetles of genus Mystrops and weevils of tribe Madarini. [9] The weevil Pachymerus cardo is known to be a seed predator on this species. [8] Rhodinus stali, an insect which is a vector of Chagas disease, may infest this tree. [2]
The tree has human uses. The leaves are used to thatch rooftops and the fruits are fed to pigs and other livestock. [2] It is a source of vegetable oil. [10] It is one of the most economically important palm species in Bolivia, where it is known as motacú. [6] [11]