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Useful Tropical Plants

Attalea spectabilis

Mart.

Arecaceae


This is a poorly known species that may be of hybrid origin between Attalea microcarpa and Attalea speciosa[
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.
].

+ Synonyms

Attalea macoupi Sagot ex Drude

Attalea monosperma Barb.Rodr.

Attalea pixuna Barb.Rodr.

Orbignya pixuna (Barb.Rodr.) Barb.Rodr.

Orbignya spectabilis (Mart.) Burret

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Attalea spectabilis is an evergreen palm with a short, usually subterranean stem that can occasionally become 100cm tall. The plant spreads by suckers, producing rosettes of up to 8 leaves[
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.
]
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It is an excellent pioneer species that can be used for restoring native woodland and also for establishing forest gardens. The plant is often tolerated, or even encouraged in home gardens and agroforestry plants within its native range[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
]

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.

Range

S. America - northern Brazil (Pará, Amapá)

Habitat

Semi-open areas or forest margins in wet places on sandy soils; at low elevations[
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.
]. Often found as an understorey in secondary forest and invading open speces such as pastures[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
].

Properties

Weed PotentialYes
Edibility Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details



To ranchers, Attalea spectabilis is a weed because it quickly invades pastures, shading out planted grasses. Even the most potent herbicides have failed to curtail the aggressive palm on plantations for pulpwood[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
]. Once established, the plant is tenacious and soon re-sprouts after being cut to ground level. Fire has little impact on the roots, and only by allowing the forest to return can it be suppressed[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
]..
after cutting. Curua´ is thus found, such as in the
outskirts of Arapixuna, where farmers initially clear curua´ only to find it
reappearing among their crops several months later.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
]. The layer of creamy pulp that surrounds the hard endocarp is eaten raw, especially by farmers and children who will often snack on them while on their way to or from fields[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
]. The pulp is also used to prepare a creamy, somewhat bland drink, and to make a tamale-like meal, where the pulp is mixed with manioc flour, and wrapped in the leaves fronds prior to baking[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
].
The brownish, ovoid to ellipsoid fruits are 50 - 60mm long and 30 - 40mm wide. A layer of creamy flesh encloses one or two large seeds[[
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.
]. The fruits are borne in bunches low to the ground and so are very easy to harvest[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
]

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

In areas where slash-and-burn farmers have been operating for a long time Attalea spectabilis often forms dense stands, which is a nuisance or a blessing, depending on one’s perspective. It is considered to be a weed by ranchers because it quickly invades pastures, shading out planted grasses, but when used as a pioneer for reforestation purposes it is certainly a blessing, providing excellent conditions for the forest trees to become established whilst also providing food and materials[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
]

Other Uses

The leaves are used for thatching[
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The sizeable leaves make an ideal roof thatch for houses, as well as being used for making interior and exterior walls of houses. The can also be woven to make items such as mats and baskets[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
].

Fibre from the leaves is used to make ropes[
454
Title
Useful Fiber Plants of the World
Publication
 
Author
Dodge C.R.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
Publisher
USDA; Washington.
Year
1897
ISBN
 
Description
A rather dated, but very comprehensive catalogue of fibre plants from around the world. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Smoke from the burning fruits has been used to coagulate latex[
1875
Title
Palms and People in the Amazon
Publication
 
Author
Smith N.
Website
http://10.1007/978-3-319-05509-1
Publisher
Springer Cham Heidelberg
Year
2020
ISBN
978-3-319-05509-1
Description
An excellent, detailed work on the uses of more than 50 palm species in Brazil, with lots of excellent photos.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Attalea+spectabilis>

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