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Attalea butyracea - (Mutis ex L.f.) Wess.Boer

Common Name Wine Palm
Family Arecaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats An understorey tree of woodlands and forests, most commonly on edges and in areas of disturbance; also in grassland, sometimes in large stands; frequently in flat areas alongside streams; from the coastal plains to elevations of 1,000 metres[ 297 , 510 ].
Range S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; Caribbean - Trinidad; Central America - Panama to Mexico.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (5 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Attalea butyracea Wine Palm


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Attalea butyracea Wine Palm
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Summary

Attalea butyracea otherwise known as Wine Palm is a tropical, evergreen plant that grows in dry forests in the Amazon. It has a straight, single stem that can grow up to 50 cm in diameter. It serves several functions such as food source and as material for construction. The apical bud is consumed as a vegetable. The sap is fermented producing alcoholic beverages. The fruit has a fleshy and fibrous pulp that can be eaten raw. The seeds and the oil it produces can be eaten as well. The seed oil can further be used in making soaps and toiletries. The leaves are widely used for thatching roofs and for weaving. It can also yield fibre that can be used in rope-making and coarse fabrics. Wood is used as construction material.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Attalea butyracea is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Attalea gomphococca Mart. Attalea humboldtiana Spruce Attalea macrocarpa (H.Karst.) Wess.Boer Attale

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit  Oil  Sap
Edible Uses: Drink  Oil

The apical bud is eaten as a vegetable[ 297 ]. Harvesting this bud leads to the eventual death of the trunk because it is unable to produce side shoots[ K ]. Sap - fermented to yield an alcoholic beverage[ 297 ]. The sap is obtained by removing the apical bud (which is edible). The sap collects in the hollow where the bud was[ 297 ]. Production: Over 18-20 days the sap is collected and yields about 12 litres. Fruit - raw[ 416 ]. The pulp is fleshy and fibrous[ 416 ]. Good-tasting, with a thick - almost dry - consistency, and a mildly sweet and nutty flavour[ 510 ]. The fruit is 8cm or longer and 6cm wide[ 416 ], borne in very large racemes[ 510 ]. The seeds are eaten[ 301 ]. They are mashed and mixed with roasted cooking bananas. Rich in oil[ 416 ]. Edible oil is obtained from the seed[ 301 ].

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

Fibre  Oil  Pioneer  String  Thatching  Weaving  Wood

Other uses rating: Very High (5/5). Other Uses: The leaves are used extensively for thatching roofs and for weaving into various articles[ 297 , 510 , 768 ]. If harvested at the correct time (with the leaves being neither too old nor too young), roofs made out of this material can last for four years or more[ 510 ]. The large fronds are split longitudinally, along the midrib. Then they are positioned side by side and tied to rafters made of poles. Finally, the leaflets are woven together. Generally, roofs made of palm leaves must be quite steep to encourage the runoff of rainwater and to avoid seepage and leaks[ 510 ]. A fibre obtained from the leaves can be used to make ropes and coarse fabrics[ 454 ]. An oil obtained from the seed is used in making soaps and toiletries[ 297 ]. Wood - used for construction[ 297 ]. Agroforestry Uses: This species spreads very rapidly in disturbed, human-made habitats[ 768 ]. This trait gives it excellent potential for use as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland and, given its wide range of uses, makes it especially useful when establishing woodland gardens[ K ].

Special Uses

Food Forest

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 ]. Grows best in a hot, sunny position[ 314 ]. Prefers a moist soil and probably does not mind poor drainage[ 314 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and sow in containers[ 297 ]. The seed takes 2 - 3 months to germinate[ 297 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Attalea butyracea or Wine 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

Found In: Amazon, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guiana, Mexico, North America, Panama, South America, Venezuela.

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
Attalea colendaPalma real, ChivilaTree25.0 10-12 MLMHNM403
Attalea funiferaBahia Piassava, Conquilla Nut, Piassaba PalmTree15.0 10-12 MLMHNDM104
Attalea maripaInaja, Maripa PalmTree15.0 10-12 MLMHSNM325
Attalea speciosaBabassu, American Oil Palm, Motacu, MotacuchiTree30.0 10-12 SLMHNM425

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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(Mutis ex L.f.) Wess.Boer

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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