The Munduruku de Bragança People - Munduruku Plants Glossary

Light photographic Glossary
of the seedlings cultivated
by the Munduruku People

Here are a few photos provided by the Munduruku themselves, taken in their Bragança nursery.

1. Açai:

Acai berries are harvested as food.
The juice and pulp of acai fruits (Euterpe oleracea) are frequently used in various juice blends, smoothies, sodas, and other beverages. In northern Brazil, acai is traditionally served in gourds called "cuias" with tapioca and sometimes sugar.

Acai is becoming a fad in the whole world. Acai is considered as an energizer. Acai is also widely consumed in Brazil as an ice cream flavor or juice. As it deteriorates rapidly after harvest, its raw material is generally only available outside the immediate growing region as acai juice or acai fruit pulp that has been frozen, dried acai, or freeze-dried.
Health benefits of the acai berry include its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-mutagenic properties, and its
benefits for the cardiovascular system.

Acai fruit contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 as well as Omega-9 which is known to help lower "bad" cholesterol.

2. Native coffee:

Cultivating this plant will allow the Munduruku to stop depending on local stores for their coffee !

3. Cupuaçu:

Cupuacu (Theobroma Grandiflorum) is a small to medium tree in the Rainforest canopy which belongs to the Cocoa family and can reach up to 20 meters in height. Cupuacu fruit has been a primary food source in the Rainforest for both indigenous peoples and animals alike. The Cupuacu fruit is known for its creamy exotic tasting pulp. The pulp is used throughout Brazil and Peru to make fresh juice, ice cream, jam and tarts. The fruit ripens in the rainy months from January to April and is considered a culinary delicacy in South American cities where demand outstrips supply.

Traditional use:
Indigenous peoples as well as local communities along the Amazon have cultivated Cupuacu as a primary food source for generations. In former times, Cupuacu seeds were traded along the Rio Negro and Upper Orinoco rivers where indigenous people drink Cupuacu juice after it has been blessed by a shaman to facilitate difficult births. The "beans", are utilized by the indigenous people for abdominal pains.

4. Andiroba:

Its name comes from indigenous peple because of ist bitter taste (nhandi = oil; rob = bitter).

Andiroba (Carapa guianensis), is a tree 30 meters high, and the diameter of which can go to over 2 meters. It is a fast growing tree and its propagation is easy in humid soil.

Indigenous people extract a valuable medicinal oil from andiroba seeds.It is well known in the amazon for its anti-inflamatory, antiseptic, lipolytic and scare healingproperties. It heats the skin and the muscles and is great for releasing tensions and aches.

5. Redwood (mogno):

6. Cumaru:

7. Ipé roxo

Called Ipe roxo in Brasil LAPACHO (Tecoma curialis, variety Tabebuia avellanedae) is an Amazonian tree used for preservation of health and immunity by indigenous people.

It is the only trees from this region known to to be totally immune to fungal infections that is why it is successfully used against fungus (Candida Albican), parasites, bacterial and viral infections.

It is also known to have blood fluidifying virtues, as a blood and cell regenerator, and a powerful tonic which boosts the natural defences and revitalises the organisme. Also a powerfull antibiotic and antiviral remedy.