The Mauritia flexousa

[amazondk]

I am always impressed with the beauty of the Buriti, Mauritia flexousa.  So, I decided to post a picture and then add one every once and a while when I see a nice example of this palm. I realize that most can not grow this palm in their climates.  But, for those than can it is a striking tree.   It is so common around here that most people do not pay attention to it.  But, it is a real tropical gem.

This picture is from April 30th in Roraima.  I was on the road and the sky grew dark and a strongdown pour was  coming.  The sky was clear to the west and the sunlight illuminated the foreground.  I could not resist registering the moment.

dk

[geonomaDude]

Very interesting palm, nice pic!

[Zac in NC]

Stunning as always Don.

Zac

[aussiearoids]

Don , excellent as always . I noticed a strange looking palm down the road when I first shifted to Whyanbeel . After asking around I found out it was a Mauritia flexuosa , and I have been trying to source a plant or seed ever since . It would grow very well along the creeks running down each side of my place .

Think I have found a source  

[STEVE IN SO CAL]

Love that palm. But alas, I must stick to the Sabal version...

[amazondk]

Thanks everyone.  I just love looking at this tree.  It is so impressive looking up from under a big one.  

Michael,

Can you get sees there.  If I send you some will they get in the country?

dk

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Don, what a photo.....very nice!

I have a small  M.  flexuosa in a pot that sits in the shallow of a small pond, but alas, it will require some extra special care if when it grows up, given our dry season and the resulting drought we now have.

Rusty

[SubTropicRay]

Simply awesome Don.  Thanks for the photo.

[TikiRick]

Great palm and fantastic photo.

[RainForestt Robert]

Excellent photo Don!  M. flexuosa is one of my favorite palms.  I still have not gotten around to taking photos of plants in habitat here.  They are more localized and require a bit of travel to get to them.  Well worth it though!

Robert

[Phil]

Don,

Excellent work.  It reminds me of when I first saw this species in habitat about 20 years ago.  Nice big seeds to find and collect.  With great anticipation I thought this would be a great fan palm for So Cal.  Well, it's more evidence than not all palm trees were born equal.  They melt right away with our weather.  But, they sure are pretty.

Phil

[ZoneTenNut]

Has anyone had any luck growing these in SoFlo?

Roger

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I got a beauty at Jeff Searle's last sale.  Planted it out, it is about 3 feet tall maybe 4 feet.  I hope it does well here.  Don, do you have any pics with people standing by the palm for scale?

Jerry

[amazondk]

Jerry,

I will get you some.  But, they are pretty big.  I think if you use a royal palm for comparison you are pretty safe.  But, the crown spreads out quite a bit more.  I notice a lot of size variation but I think this has to do with soil conditions.  When they grow in optimum conditions they are a big tree.

Maybe this will help.  It is a picture of a tree next to a furniture store of a guy I know here.  If you compare it to the chairs and buildings it gives some scale.  I will bring you some seeds next week.

dk

[aussiearoids]

Don , thanks for your kind offer , but I found out this morning there are some 8" pots available in Cairns .

you just have to know who to ask , thanks mikeE  

Here is the one in Whyanbeel that got me searching for this magnificent palm .

[amazondk]

Michael,

That looks great.  They love a lot of water and normally grow well in pretty sandy soil.  Once they start to grow they are pretty fast.  A juice made from the pulp of the fruit is highly nutritious as well.  But, it is sort of an aquired taste.  

Good luck,

dk

[Peter]

Roger,

I saw a fairly large one growing in Pembroke Pines last year, right next to a small (manmade?) lake.  It didn't look very good but that was due to the hurricanes; I seem to remember that it was at least 15' tall, growing in a friend of a friend's garden.  I'll see if I have time to track it down when I'm in town next week.

[ZoneTenNut]

(Peter @ May 04 2007,09:57)

QUOTE

Roger,

I saw a fairly large one growing in Pembroke Pines last year, right next to a small (manmade?) lake.  It didn't look very good but that was due to the hurricanes; I seem to remember that it was at least 15' tall, growing in a friend of a friend's garden.  I'll see if I have time to track it down when I'm in town next week.

Peter,

That would be great. Let me know. I grew up in Peru and we had these everywhere and they are beautiful palms. Would love to give one a try if they can be grown here. I've heard before they are difficult for SoFlo and have never seen one anywhere here in the ground.

Roger

[Kris]

Dear Don  

nice palms in picture and wish to know that all the dried up

hangings seen around the palm as peticoats are they old

leaves or seeds stalk ?

And Dear Micheal  

those palms in your still are fentastic,but what impressed me the most was the last fan palm standing tall_what is its I.D please.it looks great to my eyes.

thanks & Love,

Kris  

[aussiearoids]

Kris , the palm is Mauritia flexuosa  

Dare I say it looks a little better than the ones Don has shown us from habitat  

[amazondk]

(ZoneTenNut @ May 04 2007,19:36)

QUOTE

(Peter @ May 04 2007,09:57)

QUOTE

Roger,

I saw a fairly large one growing in Pembroke Pines last year, right next to a small (manmade?) lake.  It didn't look very good but that was due to the hurricanes; I seem to remember that it was at least 15' tall, growing in a friend of a friend's garden.  I'll see if I have time to track it down when I'm in town next week.

Peter,

That would be great. Let me know. I grew up in Peru and we had these everywhere and they are beautiful palms. Would love to give one a try if they can be grown here. I've heard before they are difficult for SoFlo and have never seen one anywhere here in the ground.

Roger

Roger,

I would say that if the temperature does not get below say 5 C. they would be ok.  But, a freeze would be fatal.  This is a very widespread palm in Brazil.  But, freezes are only common at high altitudes and in the south out of this palms range.  One thing I do know they take being burned by fire quite well.  Do they use the fruit in Peru?

dk

[ZoneTenNut]

(amazondk @ May 05 2007,14:35)

QUOTE

Do they use the fruit in Peru?

Don,

The fruit is eaten out of hand and also used to make a drink. Personally I never cared for it, but it is very popular there.

Roger

[amazondk]

Roger,

The same thing is done around here.  I don't really like the drink too much myself.  Açai is much better.  

dk

[ZoneTenNut]

Don,

I can't remember is the seeds they sell on the street for eating, if they were boiled or not. I believe they were. Do you know?

Roger

[amazondk]

Jerry,

As per your request here is a picture of a few Mauritias and me to give scale to the size.  As you can see they are definately big palms.

The small tree trunks leaned up on this palm are used by the Indians in the Reservation to climp easily and harvest the fruits.

[amazondk]

I pass this house by the side of the road all the time and think that the Maritias in front make a great landscape.

And then there is the Mauritia and Transvestite.  The bill board in the foreground is promoting a strip show of a Sao Paulo transvestite star in a local GLS (Gays, Lesbians, and Sympatizers) Club.  I imagine that it will be sort of a wild show.  The palm gives a nice accent I thought.