Palma real, Chivila

Attalea colenda

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Basic Information

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: attalea

Plant ID (slug): attalea-colenda

Numeric ID: 22387

USDA Hardiness: 10-12

Ratings

Physical Characteristics

Attalea colenda is an evergreen Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 20 m (65ft) 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 and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

S. America - Ecuador, Colombia.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Oil Seed Edible Uses: Oil Edible portion: Seeds, oil. An oil extracted from the seed is used for cooking[ 768 ]. Similar to coconut and African oil palm. The infructescences of this species are unusually large and heavy, with some of them weighing more than 100 kilos; an assay of the individual seeds showed 51.74% oil and 4.28% water[ 769 ].