If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Attalea oleifera

Barb.Rodr.

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Attalea oleifera is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm growing from 7 - 25 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 30 - 45cm in diameter; it is topped by a crown of 8 - 30 leaves that are up to 9 metres long[
768
Title
Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
Publication
 
Author
Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
Publisher
Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-691-08537-4
Description
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.
,
769
Title
A Taxonomic Treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae (Tribe Cocoeae)
Publication
Illinois Biological Monographs 59
Author
Glassman S.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
University of Illinois Press; Chicago.
Year
1999
ISBN
0-252-06786-X
Description
An in depth treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae. As well as a detailed study of the species, it also mentions various of their uses.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of oil, medicine and material for thatching.
Over-exploitation of the leaves as building materials and grazing has apparently caused a decline in reproductive potential. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

768
Title
Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
Publication
 
Author
Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
Publisher
Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-691-08537-4
Description
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.
,
769
Title
A Taxonomic Treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae (Tribe Cocoeae)
Publication
Illinois Biological Monographs 59
Author
Glassman S.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
University of Illinois Press; Chicago.
Year
1999
ISBN
0-252-06786-X
Description
An in depth treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae. As well as a detailed study of the species, it also mentions various of their uses.

Range

S. America - northeast Brazil.

Habitat

Coastal forest at elevations from 50 - 800 metres[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
769
Title
A Taxonomic Treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae (Tribe Cocoeae)
Publication
Illinois Biological Monographs 59
Author
Glassman S.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
University of Illinois Press; Chicago.
Year
1999
ISBN
0-252-06786-X
Description
An in depth treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae. As well as a detailed study of the species, it also mentions various of their uses.
]. Transitional forest between the coastal forest and savannah[
768
Title
Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas
Publication
 
Author
Henderson A.; Galeano G.; Bernal R.
Publisher
Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-691-08537-4
Description
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.
]. High altitude swamps[
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.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height18.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Prefers a sunny position[
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.
]. Grows best in a moist soil[
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.
].

Edible Uses

An oil is obtained from the fleshy fruit. It can be used for cooking[
769
Title
A Taxonomic Treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae (Tribe Cocoeae)
Publication
Illinois Biological Monographs 59
Author
Glassman S.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
University of Illinois Press; Chicago.
Year
1999
ISBN
0-252-06786-X
Description
An in depth treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae. As well as a detailed study of the species, it also mentions various of their uses.
].
An oil is obtained from the seed. It is used in cooking[
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.
,
769
Title
A Taxonomic Treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae (Tribe Cocoeae)
Publication
Illinois Biological Monographs 59
Author
Glassman S.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
University of Illinois Press; Chicago.
Year
1999
ISBN
0-252-06786-X
Description
An in depth treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae. As well as a detailed study of the species, it also mentions various of their uses.
].

Medicinal

The oil from the seeds is active against the tropical flea chigoes (Tunga penetrans) and erysipelas[
739
Title
Medicinal Plants of Brazil
Publication
 
Author
Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
Publisher
Reference Publications; Michigan.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-917256-42-5
Description
An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].

Other Uses

An oil is obtained from the fleshy fruit and another from the seed. They are used for illumination and for making soap[
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.
,
769
Title
A Taxonomic Treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae (Tribe Cocoeae)
Publication
Illinois Biological Monographs 59
Author
Glassman S.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
University of Illinois Press; Chicago.
Year
1999
ISBN
0-252-06786-X
Description
An in depth treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae. As well as a detailed study of the species, it also mentions various of their uses.
].

The leaves are used as a thatching material[
769
Title
A Taxonomic Treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae (Tribe Cocoeae)
Publication
Illinois Biological Monographs 59
Author
Glassman S.F.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
University of Illinois Press; Chicago.
Year
1999
ISBN
0-252-06786-X
Description
An in depth treatment of the Palm Subtribe Attaleinae. As well as a detailed study of the species, it also mentions various of their uses.
].

Propagation

Seed - sow in a semi-shaded position[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Germination can take up to 5 years[
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.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Attalea+oleifera>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.