Tree of Life, Buriti Nut

Where does Tree of Life grow?

Found in: Amazon, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Notes: There are 2 Mauritia species. The fruit have 30-300 mg carotene per 100 g of pulp, which is equivalent to 50,000-500,000 IU of provitamin A. The mesocarp contains 5.2% protein. It has antioxidant properties and is rich in Vitamin A.

Status: The fruit is an important part of the diet in the Amazon.

Growing Tree of Life, Buriti Nut

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. Seed germinate erratically. Seeds take 2-6 months to germinate. The fresh fruit can be used directly as seeds. Seeds are only viable for a short time.

Edible Uses: The fruit are eaten. The fruit are soaked in water to soften the outer layer which is then scraped off and the layer around the seed is eaten. They are also dried and converted into flour. The fruit are eaten cooked. The fruit are used for wine. The fruit yield an edible oil. The oily pulp of the fruit is boiled with sugar and made into a sweetmeat. The juice of the stem is used for a drink. The sap from the cut flower stalk is collected and used for wine. The trunk pith contains a starch similar to sago.

Production: Plants only develop slowly. The fruit contain 8-9% edible oil.

Nutrition Info

Tree of Life, Buriti Nut Photos

References

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