Origin
Equatorial Brazil and adjoining regions.

Historical background
The plant was first mentioned by PIMENTEL in 1597. The vernacular name is deduced from the Tupí, 'mbur' meaning food and 'ití' meaning high tree.

Occurence
In Venezuela the palm occurs from the Orinoco Delta crossing the eastern Llanos up to the Alto Orinoco. It prefers a hot and humid climate. It is also found in Guiana and Western Amazonia. It forms large stands called morichales.

Ethnobotanical and general use
Nutritional use
The plant is highly appreciated by the indigenous Warao Indians, because it supplies them with many useful objects. Young leaf buds 'cogollo' are eaten as a vegetable delicacy. From the pith of the stem a sago-like starch can be extracted. The pith is also dried and toasted to be eaten as a kind of bread. The natives prepare wine from the fermented sap of the stem. The sweet fruits which have a taste of mango are eaten raw or refreshing drinks and a brandy are prepared from them. From fruit and seed a yellow oil is extracted.

Medical use
The fruit is digestive and laxative. An alcoholic beverage of the fruit is made for colds, influenza and to strengthen old and weak people. Leaves and shoots are used for cough. Young sprouts help for fever, vomiting, eye trouble, stomach ache. The cambium of the stem is masticated to cure whooping cough. The Warao Indians use leaves and trunk for coughs, young sprouts for fever, vomiting, ear and stomachache, and the pith of the trunk for haemorrhage and whooping cough (wiLBERT 1996).

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Uses: anemia, nutritive, kidneys.                                                 

Origin: Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Honduras, Peru, Suriname, Vnezuela       

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Stem: A pap prepared from the pith is used to treat dysentery and diarrhoea in Guyana.

Fruit: Made into a cheese-like paste sometimes eaten for remedying bowel problems, or to allay hunger when desperate.

Part unspecified: Used for treating dysentery, by Amerindians at Kurupukari, Guyana.          

1) South American medicinal plants : botany, remedial properties, and general use / I. Roth, H. Lindorf. Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2002. -- p. 492.

2) Geraldini , Isanete, Journal of Ethnopharmacology v. 173, 2015 . -- p. 383-423

3) Robertt, A., et al.. Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana)/Smithsonian NMNH. cited online: 17-08-2017.