Palm forest composed of Mauritia flexuosa palm next to an oxbow lake in Southeastern Peru. Photo: Victor Gamarra.
Palm Forest
A stand of palm forest occurs in old lake beds, in swamps, as well as in wet areas of poor drainage in tropical South America. Palm forests can be extensive stands of pure Mauritia flexuosa, as well as stands mixed with other palms or with other hardwood species. The structural complexity of palm forest varies according to the tree composition of each stand.
Individual palm trees can reach heights of up to 35 m (115 ft). The palm fronts have a long and thick stem with a rounded crown. The flowers and fruit are produced in bunches high in the crown of the palm tree.
Mauritia flexuosa palm showing a bunch of fruit. Photo: Alfredo Begazo.
Mauritia flexuosa is known regionally as the moriche palm, ité palm, ita, buriti, muriti, canangucho(Colombia), or aguaje (Peru). Palm forests are ecologically, economically, and culturally important ecosystems, and their conservation and management will require the prioritization and balancing of the numerous demands by both wildlife and people. Palm forests are poorly studied despite their recognized ecological and economic importance.
The Point-tailed Palmcreeper (Berlepchia rickerii) is largely restricted to palm forests. Photo: Ross Tsai.
References:
- “The amazing palm tree of the Amazon” (PDF). Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana. 2006.