Copernicia prunifera

Copernicia prunifera or the carnaúba palm or carnaubeira palm (kaʁnaˈubɐ) is a species of palm tree native to northeastern Brazil (mainly the states of Ceará, Piauí, Maranhão, Rio Grande do Norte and Bahia). Known by many as 'tree of life' because of its many uses, the Carnaúba is also the symbol tree of Ceará. The initiative to use it as a symbol vies to promote its conservation and sustainable use. Copernica prunifera can grow up to 20 m height with an average 25 cm diameter trunk, circular tree crown, with fan-leaves measuring 1.5 m, bisexual flowers and small black round fruits (2.5 cm). The palm can live up to 200 years. Although it withstands drought well, it has a high water requirement for growth. A slightly saline composition in the soil produces the best trees. Carnaubas are social palm trees, they are found in Carnaubais (assembly/group of Carnaubas) in flood zones or near rivers. Taxonomically, this tree belongs to the subfamily Coryphoideae, tribe Corypheae, subtribe Livistoninae. The Carnauba palm tree is an endemic species to the Caatinga, an exclusive Brazilian biome, comprising a total area of 826,411 km2. The latter is present in eight of the nine Northeastern states: Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, and it is also present in a northern strip of Minas Gerais. Caatinga covers approximately 10% of the national territory and 70% of the Northeast region, and borders with three other biomes in the country, the Amazon rainforest, the Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado savanna. A semiarid climate prevails in the Caatinga, with approximately 800 mm of poorly distributed rainfall per year, resulting in long periods of drought. The carnauba palm tree, is an easily adaptable species and, thus, is spread over large territories, greatly impacting the locations. Besides economic and cultural impacts, it has a remarkable ecological influence of this northeastern palm on the environments.