2.9 – Flora

The Brazilian Cerrado is recognized as the richest savannah in the world. It harbors 12,385 cataloged species, of which about 4,000 are endemic. More than 220 species have medicinal uses and more than 416 can be used in soil recovery, such as wind barriers, protection against erosion or to create habitats for natural plague predators. More than 10 types of consumable fruits are regularly consumed by the local population and sold in urban centers, such as Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense), Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa), Mangaba (Hancornia speciosa), Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica), Bacupari (Salacia crassifolia), Cajuzinho do Cerrado (Anacardium humile), Araticum (Annona crassifolia) and the seeds of the Barú (Dipteryx alata). Among the flora species, 637 are threatened with extinction.