Babasu oil palm
It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands in hot tropical monsoonal climates. It grows in forest and open areas. It grows in areas with 1200 mm of rain per year. In the Cairns Botanical Gardens. (As Orbigyna barbosiana). In Townsville palmetum.
Also known as:
Aguacu, Aguassu, American oil palm, Babacu palm, Babassu, Bauacu, Coco-de-macaco, Coco-naia, Coco-pindoba, Cusi, Cusino, Guaguaco, Guaguazu, Iba, Motacuchi, Palem minyak babasu, Uauacu, Xebinihua, Xeni
Synonyms
- Attalea apoda Burret
- Attalea camposportoana Burret
- Attalea lydiae (Drude)Barb. Rodr.
- Attalea pixuna Barb. Rodr.
- Attalea spectabilis var. polyandra Drude
- Orbignya barbosiana Burret
- Orbignya huebneri Burret
- Orbignya lydiae Drude
- Orbignya macropetala Burret
- Orbignya martiana Barb. Rodr.
- Orbignya oleifera Burret
- Orbignya phalerata Mart.
- Orbignya pixuna (Barb.Rodr.)Barb.Rodr.
- Orbignya speciosa (Mart.) Barb. Rodr., nom. illeg.
Edible Portion
- Oil, Fruit, Nuts, Seeds, Palm heart, Cabbage, Sap
Where does Babasu oil palm grow?
Found in: Amazon, Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, SE Asia, South America, Suriname, United States
Notes: There are between (22) 30-71 Attalea species. Some authorities divide them among Attalea, Orbignya, Scheela and Maximiliana.
Status: It is a very important crop in Northern Brazil.
Growing Babasu oil palm
Cultivation: Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and can be sown directly as seed. The seed only remain viable for a short time. They sprout after 4-6 months.
Edible Uses: The kernel of the nut is used to extract an edible oil. The kernels are eaten as a snack. The watery contents are used as a drink. Sap from the stem produces a palm wine. The palm heart is eaten. Ashes from the burnt stem are used as a salt substitute. The flour is mixed with milk and sugar to produce a chocolate like drink.
Production: The palms start to flower in the tenth year. They can live for 200 years. It produces 2-6 fruiting clusters each year. The kernel is 66% oil. In Bolivia there are an average of 182-211 trees per hectare. Fruit yields are 2456-2624 kg per hectare.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Nuts | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Palm heart | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sap | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Babasu oil palm Photos
References
Balick, M.J. and Beck, H.T., (Ed.), 1990, Useful palms of the World. A Synoptic Bibliography. Colombia p 53 (As Orbignya martiana), 54, 63 (As Orbignya martiana), 64, 125 (As Orbignya oleifera), 143 (As Orbignya martiana), 157 (As Orbignya phalerata), 209 (As Orbignya martiana), 311 (As Orbignya phalerata), 390 (As Orbignya speciosa), 396 (As Orbignya martiana), 397, 399, 535, 555,
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Etkin, N.L. (Ed.), 1994, Eating on the Wild Side, Univ. of Arizona. p 121, 140 (As Orbignya phalerata)
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Syst. veg. 2:624. 1825
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