Baru: biologia e uso.

• Autor(a) principal: SANO, S. M.
• Data de Publicação: 2004
• Outros Autores: RIBEIRO, J. F., BRITO, M. A. de
• Tipo de documento: Livro
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório de Informação Tecnológica da Embrapa (Infoteca-e)
• Texto Completo: http://www.infoteca.cnptia.embrapa.br/infoteca/handle/doc/566595
• topic: Baru; Propriedade medicinal; Cerrado; Dipteryx Alata; Nutriente Mineral; Espécie Nativa; Planta Medicinal

ABSTRACT: Dipteryx alata Vog. is a native leguminous tree species from Cerrado, the Brazilian Savannah. It is widespread and plays an important role as key species for environmental conservation as well as for rural families to get additional income by exploiting its seeds. Its wood, which is quite durable, is used for several applications in the farm; the corky has medicinal proprieties and the endocarp is used to make charcoal. The seed and the mesocarp are edible, rich in calories and mineral nutrients. Is is considered a key species for sustaining the natural fauna, as its fruits feed birds, mammals like bats, monkeys, and rodents during the dry season, when food is scarce; bees visit its flowers too. This species is also promising for cultivation, due to its many uses; it is easy to germinate and to establish in the field. It can be used in agroforests systems, specially in a combination with livestock as cattle feed the mesocarp. The leaves fall annually, recycling nutrients as calcium and nitrogen, and thus maintaining organic matter in the soil. Planting this species onto degraded areas, or inside conservation units can benefit its own conservation, as well as many others animal species.