Arecaceae FAMILY

Attalea speciosa

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The fine silicate crystals falling off the fruit can cause serious eye damage to the collectors[ 324 Title Edible Nuts. Publication Non-Wood Forest Products, Handbook 5 Author Wickens G.E. Website http://www.fao.org/docrep/ Publisher FAO, Rome. Year 1995 ISBN 92-5-103748-5 Description Detailed information on 20 of the most valuable nut crops, plus more basic information on a wide range of other nut-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].

Botanical Description

Attalea speciosa is a slow-growing, solitary-stemmed, evergreen feather palm growing from 20 - 30 metres tall[ 314 Title Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. Publication Author Website http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website. , 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The unbranched stem can be 20 - 50cm in diameter, topped by a dense crown of 15 - 20 leaves that can each be 5 - 8 metres long[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. Babassu is an extremely important multi-purpose tree, producing food, medicines and a wide range of other materials for the local population. It is also a very important commercial oil producing crop in S. America. The plant is very widely harvested from wild and semi-managed plants and is also cultivated[ 301 Title Cornucopia II Publication Author Facciola. S. Publisher Kampong Publications, California. Year 1998 ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 Description The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc. , 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. , 324 Title Edible Nuts. Publication Non-Wood Forest Products, Handbook 5 Author Wickens G.E. Website http://www.fao.org/docrep/ Publisher FAO, Rome. Year 1995 ISBN 92-5-103748-5 Description Detailed information on 20 of the most valuable nut crops, plus more basic information on a wide range of other nut-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. It is an excellent pioneer species for restoring native woodland and establishing woodland gardens, and is often planted within its native range as an ornamental in streets and parks[ 314 Title Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. Publication Author Website http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeNorthern and western S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Guyana, Surinam.

HabitatPrimary rainforest, usually becoming the dominant species[ 419 Title Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition. Publication Author Lorenzi. H. Publisher Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. Year 2002 ISBN 85-86714-17-8 Description Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best. ]. Lowland areas, sometimes forming thickets of thousands of plants in warm and damp areas[ 314 Title Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. Publication Author Website http://www.pacsoa.org.au/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website. ]. The plant also regenerates vigorously in open areas[ 419 Title Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition. Publication Author Lorenzi. H. Publisher Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. Year 2002 ISBN 85-86714-17-8 Description Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best. ].