Quito palm
A tropical plant. It grows between 2,000 and 3,000 metres altitude. It requires a sunny sheltered position in a well drained soil. Plants need night temperatures below 13°C. They can grow in Sydney in Australia. It suits subtropical and temperate regions. Temperatures below -6°C can kill trees. Trees can grow in a fairly wide range of pH values.
Also known as:
Coco cumbe, Cocumbe palm, Mountain coconut
Edible Portion
- Seeds, Oil, Fruit, Nuts, Sap
Where does Quito palm grow?
Found in: Australia, Andes, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, New Zealand, North America, South America, United States
Notes: There are 2 or 3 Parajubaea species.
Status: It is a cultivated food plant.
Growing Quito palm
Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed when it is newly ripe. Seed are slow to germinate. Stored seed should be presoaked for 24 hours in warm water. Plants are deep rooted. It is therefore better to plant them directly where they will grow.
Edible Uses: The seed is eaten raw or cooked. The seed is enjoyed especially by children. An edible oil is obtained from the seed. The sap is used for a drink.
Production: Plants grow fairly quickly. They can produce fruit in 4 years when grown from seed.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
References
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World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew