Peach Palm, Pupunha

Bactris gasipaes

Physical Characteristics

Bactris gasipaes is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 7 m (23ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Insects, wind. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Distribution

Central and northern S. America.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Oil Seed Shoots Edible Uses: Condiment Oil Salt Edible portion: Fruit, Flower shoots, Cabbage, Palm heart, Vegetable. Fruit - cooked[ 297 ]. An acquired taste, mealy and nutty in flavour[ 200 ]. The flavour is variable, ranging from bland to strong[ 303 ]. Inedible raw, it is boiled in salt water for 30 - 60 minutes, when it becomes floury-textured, oily and pleasant tasting with good nutritious qualities[ 297 , 303 ]. The fruit is always cooked, because of the presence of an alkaloid, pupunhadine[ 303 ]. The fruit is highly nutritious, being very rich in carbohydrate and protein[ 200 ]. The fruits are also ground into a flour for baking bread, cakes etc[ 297 ]. The ovoid fruit is about 6cm long[ 200 ]. The fruit palm is an energy-rich source of carbohydrates and oil; the pulp contains all the essential amino acids and is an excellent source of quality protein[ 303 ]. The mesocarp is rich in beta-carotene[ 303 ]. It is regarded as probably the most nutritionally balanced of tropical fruits; has twice the protein content of the banana and can produce more carbohydrate per ha than maize[ 324 ]. An edible oil is obtained from the seed[ 301 ]. It is called oil of macanilla[ 301 ]. The mesocarp oil has a relatively high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, notably oleic acid, and contains no cholesterol[ 303 ]. It is used for cooking[ 303 ]. Seed - eaten raw or made into a meal to flavour drinks[ 301 ]. Consumed as nuts[ 303 ]. A salt substitute is made by cooking the spadix[ 301 ]. The cooked male flowers are used as a condiment[ 303 ]. The apical bud is cooked and eaten as a vegetable[ 301 , 763 ]. A delicacy, in some areas it is eaten as a salad[ 303 ]. Fresh, dried and canned palmito is being marketed for use in salads, soups and fillings and as roasted chips[ 303 ]. Eating the bud effectively kills the trunk since it is unable to produce side shoots[ 301 ]. Some plants in this species form multi-trunks and so harvesting the apical bud will only kill one stem, not the plant[ K ]. An important food in South America.

Medicinal Uses

Antirheumatic The oil from the seeds is used as a rub to ease rheumatic pains[ 739 ]. The fruit are high in Vitamin A. The red variety has 2.76 mg of carotene while the yellow variety has 0.835 mg.

Known Hazards

The stems are usually heavily armed with rings of very sharp, black spines about 5 cm long[ 314 ].(Plant has spines or sharp edges; use extreme caution when handling )