Syagrus coronata

Licuri palm
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Genus: Syagrus
Species:
S. coronata
Binomial name
Syagrus coronata
Synonyms

Syagrus coronata, commonly known as the ouricury palm, aricuri palm, or licuri palm, is a species of palm tree that is native to eastern Brazil, ranging from the southern part of the state of Pernambuco, into the state of Bahia, south to the Jequitinhonha River in the state of Minas Gerais. The tree can live for 30–150 years, though most only live for 8–10 years on average. It plays an important role in the diets of tropical seasonally dry forest animals.

Description

Syagrus coronata reaches 3 to 12 m (9.8 to 39.4 ft) tall with a crown of semi-plumose leaves. The blooms are bright yellow, and the plants bear fruit for most of the year.

Ecological importance

Licuri palm nuts

Licuri palm nuts are the main food source of Lear's macaw, making up around 95% of their diet. These nuts can grow to be 2.5 cm diameter. According to Kitzke and Johnson, mature C. coronata palms number about five billion (5,000,000,000).

Oil can be extracted from the fruit of the tree which contains saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The oils have been incorporated into topical emulsions.

Threats

The destruction of small seedlings by cattle poses a threat to the plants, primarily through the destruction of concentrated groves. Those groves are vital to Lear's macaw.

Uses

Missouri's Botanical Garden Illustration (1823-1850)

Syagrus coronata is the source of ouricury wax.

The oils containing oleic and palmitic acid have been used in topical formulations in skincare .

References

  1. ↑ "Plants Profile for Syagrus coronata (Ouricury palm)".
  2. ↑ Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Syagrus coronata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T148757800A148757802. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T148757800A148757802.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew".
  4. ↑ NRCS. "Syagrus coronata". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Syagrus coronata (Licury Palm)".
  6. 1 2 3 4 Pittman, Tony (2000). "The Lear's Macaw". Parrots - Parrot Conservation - Breeding. The Parrot Society UK.
  7. ↑ "Syagrus coronata". Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  8. ↑ Andrew Henderson; Gloria Galeano; Rodrigo Bernal (7 July 1997). Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton University Press. p. 145. ISBN 978-0-691-01600-9. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  9. ↑ "Lears Macaw". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
  10. ↑ Kitzke, Eugene D.; Johnson, Dennis (January 1975). "Commercial Palm Products Other than Oil". Principes. 19 (1): 7.
  11. ↑ Sousa, Giovana; De Souza Dantas, Isabelle; De Santana, Davi; Leal, Leila (2018-01-04). "New Oils for Cosmetic O/W Emulsions: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation". Cosmetics. 5 (1): 6. doi:10.3390/cosmetics5010006. ISSN 2079-9284.
  12. ↑ Guimarães, Julian Dos Santos; Shiosaki, Ricardo Kenji; Mendes, Marianne Louise Marinho (2021-09-20). "Licuri (Syagrus coronata): características, importâncias, potenciais e perspectivas do pequeno coco do Brasil". Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente. 58. Bibcode:2021DesMA..5868852G. doi:10.5380/dma.v58i0.68852. ISSN 2176-9109.
  13. ↑ Bahia, Pedro Victor Bomfim; Ferreira, Guilherme Augusto; Mascarenhas, Artur José Santos; Castro, Fabiana da Silva; Fréty, Roger Thomas François; Vidal, Rosangela Regia Lima (2025-08-08). "Sustainable Treatment of Crude Oil-in-Saline Water Emulsion with Licuri (Syagrus coronata) Leaf Fiber". Sustainability. 17 (16): 7188. Bibcode:2025Sust...17.7188B. doi:10.3390/su17167188. ISSN 2071-1050.
  14. ↑ Leal, Leila Bastos; Sousa, Giovana Damasceno; Seixas, Karoline Belém; Souza, Pedro Henrique Nogueira de; Santana, Davi Pereira de (March 2013). "Determination of the critical hydrophile-lipophile balance of licuri oil from Syagrus coronata: application for topical emulsions and evaluation of its hydrating function". Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 49 (1): 167–173. doi:10.1590/S1984-82502013000100018. ISSN 1984-8250.
  15. ↑ Tommasi Schmitt, Daniela Lana; Santos, Scheila Lopes dos; Büttenbender, Mariana Brunetto; Scheibel, Joice Maria; Riéffel, Roberta Cougo; Guerreiro, Irene Clemes Kulkamp; Soares, Rosane Michele Duarte; Macedo, Alexandre José; Teixeira, Helder Ferreira; Silva, Márcia Vanusa; Correia, Maria Tereza dos Santos; Paese, Karina (2026-08-28). "Licuri Oil (Syagrus coronata) as a Natural Oily Core for Cationic Polymeric Nanocapsules for Topical Formulation: Development, Characterization, and Incorporation into Hydrogels". Molecules. 31 (17): 3022. doi:10.3390/molecules31173022. ISSN 1420-3049. PMC 13566961. PMID 42738682.
  16. ↑ Sousa, Giovana; De Souza Dantas, Isabelle; De Santana, Davi; Leal, Leila (2018-01-04). "New Oils for Cosmetic O/W Emulsions: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation". Cosmetics. 5 (1): 6. doi:10.3390/cosmetics5010006. ISSN 2079-9284.
  17. ↑ Sousa, Giovana; De Souza Dantas, Isabelle; De Santana, Davi; Leal, Leila (2018-01-04). "New Oils for Cosmetic O/W Emulsions: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation". Cosmetics. 5 (1): 6. doi:10.3390/cosmetics5010006. ISSN 2079-9284.
  18. ↑ Sousa, G.D.; Kishishita, J.; Aquino, K.A.; Presgrave, O.A.; Leal, L.B.; Santana, D.P. Biopharmaceutical Assessment and Irritation Potential of Microemulsions and Conventional Systems Containing Oil from Syagrus cearensis for Topical Delivery of Amphotericin B Using Alternative Methods. AAPS PharmSciTech 2016, 18, 1833–1842.
  19. ↑ Leal, L.B.; Sousa, G.D.; Seixas, K.B.; Souza, P.H.; Santana, D.P. Determination of the critical hydrophile-lipophile balance of licuri oil from Syagrus coronata: Application for topical emulsions and evaluation of its hydrating function. Braz. J. Pharm. Sci. 2013, 49, 167–173.