Babassu, American Oil Palm, Motacu, Motacuchi

Attalea speciosa

Physical Characteristics

Attalea speciosa is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is not frost tender. 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 and can tolerate drought.

Distribution

Northern and western S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Guyana, Surinam.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Oil Sap Seed Edible Uses: Drink Milk Oil Salt Edible portion: Oil, Fruit, Nuts, Palm heart, Cabbage, Sap. A good quality cooking oil is extracted from the seeds [ 301 , 419 ]. It can be used to make a butter[ 419 ]. Seeds - raw or cooked. They can be eaten as a snack or made into a nut milk[ 301 ]. The ellipsoid seeds are up to 6cm long by 1 - 2cm wide, there are usually 3 - 6 seeds in each fruit[ 324 ]. The nuts are extremely hard and difficult to crack[ 324 ]. The watery endosperm from immature seeds is consumed as a drink[ 301 , 419 ]. Very nourishing[ 419 ]. A sap obtained from the stem is fermented to make palm wine[ 301 ]. The apical bud is used as a food[ 301 , 324 ]. Harvesting this bud will effectively lead to the death of the trunk because it is unable to make side branches[ 301 ]. Ashes from the burnt stem are used as a salt substitute[ 301 ]. Babassu flour, mixed with milk and sugar, makes a chocolate-like drink[ 301 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic Febrifuge Plaster The leaves and liquid endosperm are used in local medicine[ 324 ]. The seed kernel is used in liniments as a treatment for rheumatism[ 739 ]. Ground into a powder and combined with sugar and water, it makes a refreshing and febrifuge emulsion[ 739 ].

Known Hazards

The fine silicate crystals falling off the fruit can cause serious eye damage to the collectors[ 324 ].