Attalea phalerata

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.^[2] Other common names include motacu^[3] and bacuri.^[4] It is native to Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru,^[1][2] where it grows along southern and western Amazonia.^[5] It is the most common palm tree on the Pantanal.^[6]

This palm grows up to 18 metres (59 ft 1 in) tall, the trunk rarely reaching more than 4 metres (13 ft 1 in).^[7][8] It has up to 30 feather-like leaves.^[8] The bright orange fruits are up to 11 centimetres (4.3 in) long.^[8]

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).^[7] Flowering occurs throughout the year and fruiting twice per year.^[7] The seeds are dispersed by tapirs, which swallow the fruits whole,^[9] and by rheas, agoutis, spiny rats of genus Clyomys, and caracaras. The hyacinth macaw consumes the seeds and may disperse them, as well.^[4] 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.^[6] This palm tree is commonly pollinated by sap beetles of genus Mystrops and weevils of tribe Madarini.^[10] The weevil Pachymerus cardo is known to be a seed predator on this species.^[9] Rhodinus stali, an insect which is a vector of Chagas disease, may infest this tree.^[3]

The tree has human uses. The leaves are used to thatch rooftops and the fruits are fed to pigs and other livestock.^[3] It is a source of vegetable oil.^[11] It is one of the most economically important palm species in Bolivia, where it is known as motacú.^[7][12]