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Copernicia alba - Morong. ex Morong. & Britton.

Common Name Caranday Palm, Caranda Palm, Caranda Palm Wax
Family Arecaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling
Habitats Open forest and Pampas[ 314 ]. Low-lying, seasonally-inundated savannahs, in areas where flooding is followed by the soil drying out completely[ 768 ].
Range Southern and western S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, central Brazil, Bolivia.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Copernicia alba Caranday Palm, Caranda Palm, Caranda Palm Wax


Falconaumanni wikimedia.org
Copernicia alba Caranday Palm, Caranda Palm, Caranda Palm Wax
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Summary

Copernica alba or commonly known as Candaray Palm or Wax Palm is an evergreen palm tree in Southern and Western South America that grows up to 25 m in height and 40 cm in girth. It has a cylindrical trunk with greyish, smooth bark. The plant is known for the high quality wax obtained from its leaves. The wax is used to make polishes. The leaves are also used as thatch material and for weaving mats, baskets, and hats. The white wood is resistant and durable, and used for poles, fencing, and building. The fruits are eaten fresh or used for juice and alcoholic drinks. Tips of young plants are also edible.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Copernicia alba is an evergreen Tree growing to 18 m (59ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Copernicia australis Becc. Copernicia nigra Morong Copernicia ramulosa Burret Copernicia rubra Moron

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Shoots
Edible Uses: Drink

The fruit are eaten fresh or used for juice and for alcoholic drinks. The tips of young plants can be eaten.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Basketry  Fencing  Polish  Thatching  Wax  Weaving  Wood

Other Uses: A high quality wax is obtained from the leaves[ 297 ]. It is used to make various high quality polishes[ 297 ]. The leaves can be used for thatching[ 46 , 297 ], and weaving into articles such as mats, baskets and hats[ 297 , 768 ]. The white wood is resistant and durable[ 46 ]. It is used for telegraph poles, fencing and building[ 46 , 297 , 768 ]. landscape uses: Pest tolerant, Specimen Plant. Blooms are very showy

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Plants succeed in moist tropical climates where temperatures never fall below 10c, the average annual rainfall is 1,500mm or more and the driest month has 25mm or more rain[ 297 ]. They can also succeed in drier areas with an annual rainfall as low as 250mm and one month or more where rainfall is below 25mm[ 297 ]. Plants can tolerate occasional light frosts with temperatures down to -2c[ 423 ]. Plants grow well in full sun, even when small[ 297 ]. Prefers a position in light shade[ 423 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - pre-soak 24 hours in warm water and sow in containers. The seed can take 2 - 3 months to germinate[ 297 ]. Fresh seed germinates easily[ 314 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Copernica alba or commonly known as Candaray Palm or Wax Palm

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Argentina, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Paraguay, SE Asia, South America.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Copernicia pruniferaBrazilian Wax Palm, Carnauba Palm, Carnauba WaxTree12.0 10-12 SLMHNM334

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Morong. ex Morong. & Britton.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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