The queen sago belongs to the Cycadaceae, a family of plants with prehistorical features. In its scientific name, the term circinalis is Latin for ‘spiral,’ making reference to the rolled leaflets (parts of the leaves) during its young phase. Similar to a small palm, it has long, rigid, and shiny leaves that can reach up … Continued
Of Tupi origin, the name ‘coité’ means vessel or pot, the reason why this plant is also known as calabash tree. Its hard and strong wood is used in carpentry and cabinetry. The very hard shell of its fruit is used to make vessels and musical instruments, like the berimbau. The plant can also be … Continued
Very imposing, talipot palms can reach up to 25 meters high and own the largest set of flowers of the plant kingdom, making an expanded halo beyond its leaves. Its flowering, a unique event during its lifetime, takes place between the age of 40 and 80 years. Millions of hermaphrodite flowers and thousands of seeds … Continued
Reaching up to 30 meters high, the copaíba’s fruits are edible for birds. The wood can be used in cabinetry, as well as in civil and naval construction. Extracted directly from the trunk, the copaíba’s oil-resin is used as fuel for diesel engines and broadly used in popular medicine. It can also be employed in … Continued
Cultivated in different parts of the world, the species Colocasia esculenta is an important source of food for populations of tropical and subtropical regions. The ‘aquatilis’ variety, popularly known as purple taro, is mostly used for ornamental purposes and one of the most iconic of the Inhotim collection, standing out for its deep-purple hue and … Continued
The Brazilwood or Pau-Brasil is the tree that lends its name to the country. It has several thorns on the youngest branches and usually blooms in spring. It was very used in civil and naval construction, however, its main value lays in the ‘brazilin,’ a dye obtained from the log and very used to dye … Continued
The hand fan-shaped blueish leaves make the Bismarck palm very appreciated for landscape design purposes. The exotic tinge is due to a waxy substance produced in response to sun exposure. Such substance makes the leaves resistant to heat and excessive loss of water. The stem, when voided, can be used as boards, and the leaves … Continued
The ponytail palm is a shrub that can reach up to 5 meters high, of semi-woody texture and sculptural aspect. Although it is similar to a palm tree, it belongs to another botanic family. Native to the desert regions of Texas (USA) and Mexico, the ponytail palm retains a lot of water in its spongy … Continued
Found in the Americas, this palm tree can reach up to 15 meters high. The inflorescence (part of the plant concentrating the set of flowers) is visited by several bees, and the fruits are used to make ice-cream, liqueur, cooking oil, hair moisturizer, and even fuel. Other parts can be used to produce fence posts … Continued
Its name comes from the Tupi term yekïti’bá, ‘stiff trunk tree,’ due to its lasting, hardwood. Considered the biggest tree of the Atlantic Forest (reaching up to 30 meters high and 4 meters diameter), it is often found in the east part of Brazil. It can live up to 500 years, being excellent in preserving … Continued