Bactris bifida

Bactris bifida is a shrub or tree with clumping stems that grow 1–4 metres (3.3–13.1 ft) high, and 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) wide. It has yellow prickles, which are up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long. The plant has four to ten leaves, which are 40–100 centimetres (1.3–3.3 ft) long, and usually simple. The leaves have a metallic sheen when dry, and have scattered brown or black spines, which are up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) long. The leaves have smooth edges. The leaf stems are 12–22 centimetres (4.7–8.7 in) long. The inflorescence stem is 15–25 centimetres (5.9–9.8 in) long, straight or slightly curved, and not spiny. The male flowers are deciduous, 3–6 millimetres (0.12–0.24 in) long, and have 1–1.5 millimetres (0.039–0.059 in) sepal lobes. The male flowers have 3–5.5 millimetres (0.12–0.22 in) petals, and six stamens. The female flowers are 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in) long, and have a tube-shaped calyx. The corolla is tube-shaped, and 2.5–3.5 millimetres (0.098–0.138 in) long. The fruits are 2–2.5 centimetres (0.79–0.98 in) long, 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) wide, narrowly ellipsoid or ovoid, purple to black, and sometimes have small spines. The mesocarp is juicy, and the endocarp is ellipsoid.

Bactris bifida is native to the wet tropical biome of northern Brazil (Acre and Amazonas), Colombia (Amazonas), and Peru (Huánuco, Loreto, San Martín, and Ucayali). It grows in lowland rainforests, at elevations of up to 1,400 metres (4,600 ft).