My Territory is the Forest
A botanical journey through the endemic species of palm trees that thrive in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
Aerial view highlighting the palm trees at Inhotim (2024-12-04) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
To inhabit is to belong. To belong to a territory and establish a shared existence with the other beings that live there. From an ecological perspective, the Atlantic Forest is home to so many plant species that it is recognized as one of the richest and most complex biomes on the planet.
Caxinguelê feeding on the fruits of a palm tree in the Inhotim gardens, highlighting the role of flora in feeding fauna (2024-12-04) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
The Atlantic Forest is home to several species of palm trees, for example. Palm trees provide shelter and food for many forest animals. A considerable number of these palm trees only live in this biome.
Data from the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden reveal that there are 56 known species of palm trees that occur only in the Atlantic Forest. A species is considered endemic when its geographic distribution is restricted to a single location, not being found naturally in any other part of the world.
Winding path among palm trees at Inhotim, demonstrating how palm trees transform the Institute's landscape (2024-12-04) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
There are so many palm trees found only in the Atlantic Forest. It's no surprise that in the Tupi-Guarani language, Pindorama, or the land of palm trees, was the name given to the territory at the beginning of colonization in the 1500s.
Jardim Veredas, one of the themed gardens at the Inhotim Institute that features native palm trees (2021-02-19) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
Important in the past, important in the present. At Inhotim, the botanical collection includes 53 species of palm trees from the Atlantic Forest. In this story, you will have the opportunity to learn about some of these palm trees, whose only home is the Atlantic Forest.
We will begin our journey with the butiá-da-serra (Butia eriosphata), an important native palm tree in the culture of southern Brazil. Its almonds are eaten raw or in preserves. The leaves are used in handicrafts, for baskets and hats. The palm heart and flowers are useful ingredients in local cuisine.
Allagoptera caudescens, a solitary-stemmed palm, adapts well to both sunny and shady environments. (2024-11-25) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
The buri-da-praia (Allagoptera caudescens) is a medium-sized palm tree that grows slowly and has a striking narrow crown. The underside of its fronds is a surprising silver color, giving it a unique appearance in the landscape.
Bunch of fruits of Acrocomia intumescens, which are edible and used in medicinal products (2024-08-26) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
Another interesting palm tree is Acrocomia intumescens, from the forests of northeastern Brazil, where the Atlantic Forest also takes the form of rainforest and high-altitude wetlands.
Its fruits are sold at regional markets, fresh, whole, pulped, or as an ingredient in syrups and other medicinal products.
Swelling in the stem of Acrocomia intumescens (2024-08-26) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
Popularly known as macaíba or macaúba-barriguda, this palm tree has a solitary stem that can reach over 25 feet tall. Young macaíba trees have thorns along the trunk, which disappear in adulthood, leaving it smooth.
Allagoptera arenaria, a palm tree found in the Atlantic Forest, from the state of Paraná to Sergipe, passing through São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia (2024-12-04) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
Now check out the guriri (Allagoptera arenaria) . It looks like a palm tree that only has leaves, but in fact it has a peculiar underground trunk. Its edible fruits, ranging from yellow to orange, are very tasty.
They can be eaten fresh or used for juices, liqueurs, and jams. Guriri leaves are also used for handmade baskets and other woven objects.
Aerial view of the Inhotim garden with several palm trees of the genus Syagrus, a very important genus of palm trees in the Neotropics. (2021-04-29) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
Now, let's take a look at the Syagrus palm trees. Inhotim is full of specimens from this genus. In botany, the genus is the name given to a group of species that are closely related to each other, sharing morphological, genetic, and evolutionary characteristics.
Syagrus is a genus of palm trees that occurs in most of South America. The name derives from a Latin—king of palm trees. It is a very diverse genus, represented by 53 species, 47 of which occur in Brazil.
Syagrus macrocarpa in the Inhotim gardens, a rare palm tree classified as "Endangered" on the IUCN Red List (2021-04-29) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
Among these species, one that stands out is Syagrus macrocarpa, a rare palm tree endemic to the Atlantic Forest with a beautiful ornamental appearance, due to its size and its leaves arranged in a spiral around the trunk.
The Syagrus macrocarpa fruits are also highly prized for both their pulp and their almonds, which can be used to make confections.
Syagrus santosii is a rare palm tree endemic to the Atlantic Forest, cultivated in the Inhotim Shade and Fresh Water Garden. (2021-04-29) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
If you stop by Jardim Sombra e Água Fresca at Inhotim, you can meet the Syagrus santosii in person. This palm tree occurs naturally in southern Bahia state. It is a very rare plant, and the only known population so far is restricted to the steep slopes of the Jequitinhonha river in Itapebi, Bahia.
Time to meet Syagrus hoehnei.
Syagrus hoehnei, a palm tree native to the Atlantic Forest cultivated in the gardens of Inhotim (2024-11-26) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
This palm tree is endemic to the Atlantic Forest, and has only been recorded in the states of Paraná and São Paulo. It may be kept indoors or outdoors. Its delicate leaves are dark green on the upper side and silvery on the underside.
The last stop on our journey is Syagrus botryophora.
Stem and crown of leaves of a Syagrus botryophora seen from below, illustrating the beauty and size of the species (2024-11-25) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
Its stem is even useful as a building material. Its sweet, orange-colored fruits are edible. The almond is also tasty, and rich in edible oil. Currently, this palm tree is part of the red list of endangered species in the state of Espírito Santo.
Inhotim Institute - Aerial view of the landscaping of Lago Grande (2020-05-06) by João Marcos RosaInhotim
The Atlantic Forest is an incredibly rich domain in terms of biodiversity, and it has a high level of endemism in several plant families. This story was an opportunity to learn about some plants from the palm family, known in botany as Arecaceae.
Palms are very important for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest and fundamental to the composition of the gardens at Inhotim.
Credits:
Research: Botanical Curation Assistant Bárbara Sales
Copywriting: Botanical Curation Assistant Bárbara Sales, and Nature Manager Sabrina Carmo
Photos: João Marcos Rosa
References:
Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro—JBRJ. Flora do Brasil 2020, accessed August 20th, 2025, <http://floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br/>.
Interested in Natural history?
Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.