nasutus adapting to human habitations, as have other reduviid vectors of Chagas Disease. cruzi, The authors discuss the risk of R. nasutus, a substantial fraction of which were infected with T. In all locations studied, Carnauba Palms were found to be infested by R. (2008) studied the role of Carnauba Palm in the ecology of the reduviid bug Rhodnius nasutus, one of several vectors capable of transmitting the pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas Disease in humans and currently infects millions of people in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Its leaves are the source of a heat-resistant wax used in a wide variety of commercial applications from car wax and candy to cosmetics, dental floss, and paper plates. The Carnauba Palm, is native to semi-arid areas of northeastern Brazil, where it is grown extensively on plantations. This wax is used in numerous products such as car waxes and floor polishes and even to protect the coatings on candies. The carnauba wax palm plays a very important economic role in Brazil where the extraction and exportation of its heat resistant wax in a major industry. Care should be taken to allow plenty of room for this palm's future growth so it can achieve its best form. With its ornamental blue/green fan shaped leaves and unique persistent lower leaf bases, this palm is ideal for the tropical home or commercial landscape. Growth is slow.Ĭultivated for commercial wax production in Brazil, the carnauba wax palm is also a highly prized, but little used, landscape specimen with few diseases or insect problems. Propagation: Seeds germinate in about 1-4 months. Moisture: Canauba wax palm is moderately tolerant of drought. It is not picky about soil and is moderately salt tolerant. Editing by edric.Ĭopernicia prunifera is adaptable to many different conditions, originating in savannas, it is able to withstand droughts, as well as the occasional flooding. (0.6-0.9 m.) long and are protectively covered with long curved spines. Each leaf is deeply divided halfway into many segments and is about 3-4 ft. The crown is composed of about 24 fan shaped blue to green waxy leaves. (9.1 m.) tall with a single gray trunk which is usually smooth on the top 1/3, while the lower 2/3 is marked with persistent leaf bases in a pleasing spiraling pattern. It gets its name from the valuable heat resistant wax, which is harvested from the leaves. The carnauba wax palm, Copernicia prunifera, may be one of the most economically important as well as aesthetically pleasing palms around. Commonly found in savannas, or open forests that occasionally are subject to flooding. Photo by Jason Schoneman.Brazil West-Central.
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