Translate this page:
Summary
Commonly found in South America, Acai Palm or Euterpe oleracea is a palm tree cultivated for its fruits and palm hearts. It is tall and slender growing up to 25-30 m high. Its leaves are pinnate and up to 3 m long each. It is medicinally used for haemorrhages, fevers, wounds, scorpion stings, diarrhoea, and jaundice. The fruit is small, purple-black in colour, and can be eaten raw. It has a thin, fibrous, fleshy pulp that is rich in antioxidants. The juice from the fruit is a refreshing drink that is often served ice cold or made into ice cream, liquor, mousses, and sweets in general. The leaves are commonly used as weaving material but can also be cooked. It is crunchy, with a sweet flavour. Edible oil can be obtained from the seed. The wood is used locally for rafters, laths, rustic buildings, etc.
Physical Characteristics
Euterpe oleracea is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 5 m (16ft) at a fast 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 and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Catis martiana O.F.Cook Euterpe badiocarpa Barb.Rodr. Euterpe beardii L.H.Bailey Euterpe brasiliana
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Apical bud Fruit Leaves Oil Seed
Edible Uses: Drink Oil Tea
Fruit - raw or cooked. A thin, fibrous, fleshy pulp with little flavour[ 416 ]. A very nutritious fruit, rich in antioxidants, it is often used to make a drink that is very popular in the Amazon region of Brazil[ 46 , 297 ]. The juice is extracted from the small round fruit by soaking the seeds in water to soften the thin outer shell and then squeezing and straining them to produce a very tasty, dense purple liquid[ 314 ]. This liquid is served ice cold with (or sometimes without) sugar and tapioca flour. It is a nourishing and refreshing drink that is also used to produce ice cream, liquor, mousses and sweets in general[ 314 ]. The juice is also added to various foods such as tapioca, cassava and porridge[ 301 ]. The purplish-black fruit is about 15 - 25mm in diameter, and is borne in huge clusters of up to 1,000 fruits[ 297 , 377 ]. Leaves - cooked[ 297 ]. Crunchy, with a sweet flavour[ 297 ]. Said to resemble artichokes (Cynara scolymus)[ 46 , 301 ]. The unexpanded leaves and bud from the crown of the plant are used[ 297 ]. Harvesting these leaves eventually kills the stem of the plant because it is unable to produce side shoots[ 297 ], although the plant can produce new stems from its base[ 314 ]. An 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.
Antidiarrhoeal Contraceptive Febrifuge Stings Styptic
A cold water infusion of the wood in the stem is used as an external wash for a contraceptive[ 348 ]. The sap is styptic. It is used to treat haemorrhages, scorpion bites, and is used in the treatment of wounds and cuts[ 348 ]. A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers[ 348 ]. An infusion of whole seedlings is used to treat shot wounds from hunting[ 348 ]. The central bud, or heart, is roasted and applied topically to soothe the pain of scorpion stings;[ 348 ]. The juice from the roasted bud should be drunk at the same time[ 348 ]. Overeating of the heart or pith causes diarrhoea[ 348 ]. The heart is dried, pulverised and then used in a plaster to cicatrize open cuts[ 348 ]. The liquid extracted from the warm heart is patted on an open wound[ 348 ]. The oil from the fruit is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[ 739 ]. A tea made from the roots is used to treat jaundice and to strengthen the blood[ 739 ]. A tea made from the seeds is used to treat fevers[ 739 ]. The fruit is used in a savoury, violet-coloured beverage that is drunk as a refreshant[ 348 ]. Phenols occur in the heart of palm[ 348 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books
Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.
Edible Tropical Plants
Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
More
Edible Temperate Plants
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
More
More Books
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.
Shop Now
Other Uses
Fibre Oil Weaving Wood
Other Uses: The leaves are used for weaving mats etc[ 418 ]. The wood is moderately heavy, soft, splits easily and of low durability when exposed to the elements[ 419 ]. It is used locally for making rustic buildings, rafters, laths etc[ 419 ].
Special Uses
Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
A plant of the moist to wet tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 3,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 16 - 32°c[ 418 ]. It can be killed by temperatures of 5°c or lower[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,800 - 2,300mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 3,000mm[ 418 ]. Prefers a position sheltered from the sun with plenty of moisture[ 297 ]. Mature plants should be able to tolerate full sun[ 297 ], so long as there is plenty of humidity[ 314 ]. Prefers a rich, moist, well-drained soil[ 377 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 5.5, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[ 418 ]. A moderately robust species, it usually produces multiple stems (up to 12 stems) though sometimes it only has one stem with a few suppressed suckers at the base[ 297 ]. A fast-growing plant[ 200 ]. Plants usually flower throughout the year but the fruit harvesting season is for only 6 months of the year[ 314 ].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
Shop Now
Plant Propagation
Seed - it has a short viability of less than three months and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Pre-soak them in cold water for 24 hours prior to sowing[ 419 ]. A germination rate of around 80% or more can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 70 days[ 419 ]. The seed germinates rapidly and grows quickly[ 297 ].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Para palm, Asai, Naidi, Pinot, Pina palm, Palmito acai, Palmiteiro, Pina, Ucai, Manaka, Acai-do-para, Jucara, Wasei, Pina, Prasara, acai, asaí, assai palm, açaizeiro, açaí, açaí-do-pará, cabbage palm, euterpe, jussara, kohlpalme, palmiteiro, palmito-açaí, para-assaipalm, pinot, uaçaí.
Native Range
SOUTHERN AMERICA: Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, 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.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
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.
Expert comment
Author
Mart.
Botanical References
1
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.
Readers comment
| Add a comment |
|
If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.
* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.
To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.
|
Subject : Euterpe oleracea
|
|
|
|