Product exuded from the leaves of the wax palm, Copernicia cerifera (Palmae), a native of Brazil and other regions in tropical South America. The wax accumulates on the surface of the leaves; these are cut from the trees and dried, whereupon the layer of wax becomes loose and is easily removed by flailing. It is the hardest, highest-melting natural wax and is used in making candles, shoe polish, high-luster wax, varnishes, phonograph records, and surface coating of automobiles.