- Dipteryx alata
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Dipteryx alata 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Dipteryx Species: D. alata Binomial name Dipteryx alata
VogelSynonyms Coumarouna alata (Vogel) Taub.
Dipteryx pteropus Mart.
Dipteryx pterota Benth.Dipteryx alata (Baru) is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family. It is a large tree usually referred to as "Baruzeiro" (Baru tree) in Portuguese and its fruits or almond-like beans are known as Baru. Other names besides Baru are Cumaru and Cumbaru.
It is found only in the Cerrado region of Brazil and is threatened by habitat loss. Historically it has been used as lumber, for charcoal production and for shadow in pastures. The fruits are used as bovine feed or as nourishment and are also an important food source for native animals species as small mammals, rodents, birds, bats, etc.
The tree can measure up to 25 m in height, 0.7 m in diameter and have a useful lifespan of 60 years. A tree will produce about 150 kg of fruit per harvest.
Its fruits, which are brown in color, are either collected off the floor or picked from the tree when they are almost ripe. A fruit usually weighs 25g of which 30% is pulp, 65% is ligneous endocarp and 5% is seed (bean/almond).
Fruits of Dipteryx alata.l
Out of the fruit, the pulp is sweet and can be consumed but is also used to manufacture jams and liquors; the beans (Baru almonds) are rich in flavor and are typically served after being roasted and salted or as a part of any number of dishes as bread, cakes, Pesto sauce and ice cream; additionally the oil extracted from the almonds may be used as a culinary ingredient or in many other varied forms. Baru is known to be rich in proteins, fibers, magnesium, potassium and iron and to have a high energetic content.
The uses for the Baru fruit can be summarized as[citation needed]:
Products and sub-products of Baru fruit and their uses Part of the Fruit Product/Sub-Product Uses Pulp Pulp in natura Human food Animal food Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Dehydrated Pulp Human food Animal food Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Flour Human food Alcohol/Liqueur Human consumption Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Industrial Residues Farming (organic fertilizer) Almond Raw almond Human food Animal food Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Agricultural (seeding) Roasted Almond Human Food Flour Human Food Milk Human Food Oil Human food Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Industrial Cake Human food Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Cosmetics Industrial Paste/Butter Human food Ligneous endocarp Charcoal Fuel Pyroligneous acid and tar Industrial Ligneous Endocarp Artisanry Additionally[citation needed]:
Baru almond, nutrition facts Per 100 g Protein 23.9 g Total fat 38.2 g Saturated fat 7.18 g Unsaturated fat 31.02 g Total fiber 13.4 g Carbohydrates 15.8 g Calcium 140 mg Potassium 827 mg Phosphor 358 mg Magnesium 178 mg Copper 1.45 mg Iron 4.24 mg Manganese 4.9 mg Zinc 4.1 mg Calories 502 Source
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. Dipteryx alata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.blavla Downloaded on 10 July 2007.
See also
Portuguese Wikipedia article on Baru
Categories:- IUCN Red List vulnerable species
- Faboideae
- Vulnerable plants
- Faboideae stubs
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