Bactris riparia
Mart.
Arecaceae
Bactris inundata Mart.
Bactris littoralis Barb.Rodr.
Bactris longifrons Mart.
Common Name:
Plant growing near water in Yasuni National Park, Ecuador
Photograph by: William J. Baker
Image credit to Palmweb
General Information
Bactris riparia is a spiny, evergreen palm growing 3 - 10 metres tall. The plant can form a large colony of unbranched stems 5 - 8cm in diameter; each stem being topped by a crown of 4 - 10 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 sometimes harvested from the wild for local use of its edible apical bud.
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 - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia.
Habitat
Margins of blackwater (and occasionally whitewater) rivers and lakes, often where its roots are submerged by seasonal floods[
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.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
Leaves - cooked[
]. The apical bud, often known as a 'palm heart', is eaten as a vegetable[
]. Eating this bud leads to the death of the tree because it is unable to make side shoots[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
