This name is accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, but the Flora do Brasil uses Polyandrococos caudescens (Mart.) Barb.Rodr., as the legitimate name (treated here as a synonym)[].

Common Name: Buri Palm

General Information

Buri palm is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree, capable of growing eventually to a height of about 15 metres[]. The unbranched stem can be 15 - 25cm in diameter, crowned with a rosette of 10 - 15 leaves that can be 2 - 3 metres long[]. In the far north of its range, especially on infertile soils, the plant often has a short, subterranean stem instead of an upright stem[].
The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It can be grown as a pioneer species when restoring native woodland on poor soils. With its silvery-green foliage, the tree is very ornamental and so is often grown in gardens.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - eastern Brazil.

Habitat

Atlantic rainforest, mainly in the more open, secondary growth areas[]. Undulating open country or woodlands close to the sea, in dry, very sandy soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can be grown in subtropical and tropical areas with highly seasonal rainfall[]. They also 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[]. They can also succeed in drier areas with an annual rainfall as low as 250mm and one month or more where rainfall is below 25mm[].
Prefers a sunny, well drained position[]. Succeeds in poor coastal sands[, ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
A slow-growing plant when very young, speeding up somewhat once planted out[, ].

Edible Uses

Fruit[]. Occasionally eaten[]. The greenish-brown, almost globose fruit is up to 45mm long and 35mm in diameter, containing a single seed[].

Seed[]. Occasionally eaten[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Although slow-growing, this species can survive in the poor, dry sandy soils near the coast and also is a good source of food for the native fauna. It is therefore a good species to use when restoring native woodland in such areas[].

Other Uses

The leaves are used for thatching[].

The wood is moderately heavy but soft and of low durability when exposed[]. It is used locally in the construction of rafters, beams etc in rustic buildings[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A low germination rate can be expected, even from fresh-sown seed, with the seed sprouting within 90 - 150 days[]. When the seedbed-sown seedlings are 5 - 8cm tall, pot them up into individual containers and they should be ready to plant out 9 - 12 months later[].
Because of its hard seedcoat, this species may benefit from scarification before sowing to speed up germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
The seed usually has a short period of viability in storage[].

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