Common Name: Wine Palm

General Information

Attalea butyracea is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm growing from 8 - 20 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical, unbranched stem can be up to 50cm in diameter; it is often covered in persistent leaf bases; and is topped by a crown of 15 - 35 leaves, which can be up to 6 metres long and 80cm wide[, , ].
The tree has a range of uses, supplying edible fruits, seeds, oil and leaves as well as materials for construction. It is commonly harvested from the wild for local use.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; Caribbean - Trinidad; Central America - Panama to Mexico.

Habitat

An understorey tree of woodlands and forests, most commonly on edges and in areas of disturbance; also in grassland, sometimes in large stands; frequently in flat areas alongside streams; from the coastal plains to elevations of 1,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants succeed in moist tropical climates where temperatures never fall below 10°c, the average annual rainfall is 1,500mm or more and the driest month has 25mm or more rain[].
Grows best in a hot, sunny position[]. Prefers a moist soil and probably does not mind poor drainage[].

Edible Uses

The palm heart (the inner core and growing bud of the plant) is harvested[]. It provides a crispy food, rich in nutrients, that can be eaten raw or cooked. Harvesting the heart will lead to the death of the plant since it is unable to produce new shoots[].

Sap - fermented to yield an alcoholic beverage[]. The sap is obtained by removing the apical bud (which is edible). The sap collects in the hollow where the bud was[].

Fruit - raw[]. The pulp is fleshy and fibrous[]. Good-tasting, with a thick - almost dry - consistency, and a mildly sweet and nutty flavour[]. The fruit is 8cm or more long and 6cm wide[], borne in very large racemes[].

The seeds are eaten[]. Rich in oil[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

This species spreads very rapidly in disturbed, human-made habitats[]. This trait gives it excellent potential for use as a pioneer species when restoring native wodland and, given its wide range of uses, makes it especially useful when establishing woodland gardens[].

Other Uses

The leaves are used extensively for thatching roofs and for weaving into various articles[, , ]. If harvested at the correct time (with the leaves being neither too old nor too young), roofs made out of this material can last for four years or more[]. The large fronds are split longitudinally, along the mid rib. Then they are positioned side by side and tied to rafters made of poles. Finally, the leaflets are woven together. Generally, roofs made of palm leaves must be quite steep to encourage the runoff of rainwater and to avoid seepage and leaks[].

A fibre obtained from the leaves can be used to make ropes and coarse fabrics[].

An oil obtained from the seed is used in making soaps and toiletries[].

Wood - used for construction[].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and sow in containers[]. The seed takes 2 - 3 months to germinate[].

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