Tropical Plant "Pajura"
Couepia bracteosa

Characteristics - The Couepia bracteosa is a fruit bearer, occasionally cultivated in the northern region of the country, and relatively frequent in its natural habitat, the tropical, dry land forest of the Amazon region. It is an evergreen tree, with a dense, narrow crown. Leaves are simple, coriaceous, dark green and lustrous on the superior surface, a brownish-grey and pulverulent on the inferior, from 20-34 cm long with a petiole of 1-2 cm. Inflorescences in short, axillary and terminal paniculated racemes, with small whitish flowers, asymmetric, protected by persistent bracts, form from August to November. Fruits are ovoid drupes, with a large seed, fragile skin, thick pulp, car-lose-granulose, no fibrous, aromatic and oily, .vith a pleasant, sweet flavor; they mature from September to May.

Uses - The fruits are consumed only in natura ind greatly appreciated, though considered to be 'heavy', due to the high oil content.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.