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Parajubaea torallyi
Arecaceae FAMILY Endangered

Parajubaea torallyi

Parajubaea torallyi

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Tree
GrowthMedium

A plant of high elevations in the tropics, growing in sheltered ravines above 2,000 metres. Despite it being very dry in the region, with rain in only 2 - 4 months of the year, the ravines themselves are very humid[1]. Plants experience sub-zero temperatures in their native range and it should therefore be possible to grow them in warm temperate zones that only experience occasional light frosts[2]. They probably require a cool summer and quickly lose vigour in areas where night temperatures do not fall below 13°c[3]. Requires a sunny, sheltered position[3, 1]. Grows best in a light, well-drained soil but with plenty of water in the growing season[3, 1]. Established plants are drought tolerant[1]. This species has a deep penetrating root system and generally establishes best when planted out at a young stage. It is not suitable for container cultivation[4]. Older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[4], so if the plants can be protected from frosts in their earlier years it might be possible to grow them in areas at the limit of their cold tolerance. Plants are relatively fast-growing for a palm and can produce fruit in 7 - 9 years from seed[1]. Trees are deep rooted[3].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. It usually germinates freely. Stored seed is more difficult to germinate, it should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water before sowing. The seedlings quickly send down a large taproot and so need to be in deep pots[1]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into deep, individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out. Traditionally, the seeds are allowed to dry completely for a couple of months in a cool, dry place. They are then planted on top of a loose, moist soil mix, under a 5 - 8cm blanket of moist sphagnum in a place which is cool at night and warm in the day. This helps with oxygen exchange in and out of the seed coat, which breaks down natural growth inhibitors in the seed. Germination can begin within a few weeks[1]. If the seeds do not germinate within a few months, store them dry again for a few months in a cool, dry place. Then soak them for 7 days in warm water and resow[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Parajubaea+torallyi>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. — http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ ↩︎Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
  2. [2]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  3. [3]Lost Crops of the Incas — Popenoe. H. et al · National Academy Press · 1990 · ISBN 0-309-04264-X ↩︎An excellent book. Very readable, with lots of information and good pictures of some lesser known food plants of S. America.
  4. [4]Palms for Cooler Climates. — McMillan-Browse. P. · Trebah Enterprises. · 1993 · ISBN 0 9521952 0 8 ↩︎An excellent little booklet on the subject, though it does not mention many plant uses.
  5. [5]Novon Vol 6 — Various · Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis. · 1996 · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎A journal of Botanical Nomenclature. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
  6. [6]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  7. [7]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
  8. [8]Heart of Palm Use: A Family Survey — Scott Zona, Ph.D. · Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Virtual Herbarium. · http://www.virtualherbarium.org/palmresearch/Hearts_of_Palm_table.html ↩︎An on-line article listing the botanical names and range of palm trees that have an edible apical bud.
  9. [9]Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas — Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R. · Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey. · 1995 · ISBN 0-691-08537-4 ↩︎An excellent book, giving basic information on all the 550 species of palms native to the Americas that were known in 1995. Comprehensive information on the plants range and habitat, brief description, some uses and almost 250 photos.
  10. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎