Common Name: Jucara Palm

General Information

Jucara palm is a tall, slim, palm with a solitary stem, growing 8 - 15 metres tall, with an attractive crown of drooping leaves, and a coloured crownshaft[]. The bole is about 10 - 15cm in diameter with a cone of visible roots at its base[].
This species produces two highly valued foods. The apical bud is often considered to be one of the best of all the 'palm hearts' for eating. It has been widely harvested from the wild for food, being used locally and also sold for canning. The fruit has also become a very popular food, being widely sold throughout Brazil as a nutritious and health-promoting drink. The plant is often cultivated in Brazil for its buds and fruits, and is also sometimes grown as an ornamental[, , ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, southern and eastern Brazil.

Habitat

An understorey tree of swampy ground in high rainfall forests[], at elevations from sea level to 1,200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of moist tropical and subtropical climates, where it is found at elevations from sea level to around 1,200 metres[]. It grows in areas where the 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 warm, sheltered, and moist site that is well drained[]. It likes filtered sunlight when young, but can take full sun as it matures[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.5 - 5, tolerating 4.1 - 5.6[].
A fast-growing plant[].
Utilizing the plant for its edible apical bud always leads to its eventual death since the palm is unable to form side branches and thus is unable to grow any more. This has led to plant populations coming under pressure in some areas[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[]. Crunchy, with a sweet flavour[]. A tropical delicacy, they can also be eaten raw in salads[]. A highly prized dish, often called 'Millionaires salad' due to its price[]. The unexpanded leaves and bud from the crown of the plant are used[]. Harvesting these leaves kills the plant because it is unable to make side-shoots[, ].

Fruit - made into a juice[]. The fruit has a thin, fleshy, fibrous pulp[]. It is made into a high calorie juice[]. The fruit is used for making a nutritious beverage or ice-cream[]. The fruit is about 12mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The juice squeezed from the young stem is applied to wounds to stop bleeding[].

Other Uses

The fruit has the potential to be used to make alcohol as a petrol substitute.

The wood is light in weight, hard, long lasting in dry sites. Although of low quality, it is used locally in making rural buildings for purposes such as rafters and beams; for water troughs, posts and as a source of cellulose[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a short viability of less than three months and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Pre-soak them in cold water for 24 hours prior to sowing[]. A germination rate of around 80% or more can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 30 - 70 days[]. The seed germinates rapidly and grows quickly[].

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