Wine Palm

Attalea butyracea

Physical Characteristics

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.

Distribution

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; Caribbean - Trinidad; Central America - Panama to Mexico.

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 ].

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

None known