Bactris maraja

Bactris maraja is a shrub or tree. It is an understory palm. The stems are in clusters of up to fifteen. The stems are 1–7 metres (3.3–23.0 ft) tall, and 1–4 centimetres (0.39–1.57 in) wide. The leaves are compound, and have seventeen to thirty pinnae on each side. The leaf spines are flattened, 5–10 centimetres (2.0–3.9 in) long, and yellowish, turning black at the base and apex. The leaf stems are 13–76 centimetres (5.1–29.9 in) long. The flower stems are 11–18 centimetres (4.3–7.1 in) long. The male flowers are around 3.55 millimetres (0.140 in) long. The female flowers are 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in) long. The petals are 3–5 millimetres (0.12–0.20 in) long, and form a tubular corolla. The sepals are 0.5–1.5 millimetres (0.020–0.059 in) long. The calyx is a 2.5–4 millimetres (0.098–0.157 in) tube. Bactris maraja flowers in January and February.

The fruits are smooth, round, purple to black, and up to 1.7 centimetres (0.67 in) in diameter. The mesocarp is juicy. Bactris maraja fruits from March to December.

Bactris maraja is native to the wet tropical biome of South America. It is present in Bolivia, northern and west-central Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It is found at elevations of 0–1,000 metres (0–3,281 ft). The species grows in various types of forests. It usually grows on non-inundated soils, but can also be found in waterlogged soil near streams.

The fruits are used for human food. The species is also used for animal food, medicine, and fuel.