Common Name: Acai

General Information

Acai is a tall, slim, multi-stemmed evergreen palm tree with an attractive crown of drooping leaves[]. It can grow up to 30 metres tall, though is more likely to be within the range 3 - 20 metres[, ]. The unbranched stems are 7 - 18cm in diameter with the roots visible at the base and a smooth, green crownshaft at the top[, ].
Assai is a highly prized food crop, especially in Brazil, where it provides edible fruits and apical buds. It is commonly gathered from the wild and is also often cultivated[, ]. The fruit is particularly rich in antioxidants and is becoming more widely known as a healthy addition to other fruits in juices etc[]. The tree is also sometimes grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Tropical Brazil extending north to Guyana, Venezuela and Trinidad.

Habitat

Swampy ground, often in sandy soils[]. Most commonly found along river edges and seasonally flooded habitats in Brazil[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to wet tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 3,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 16 - 32°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of 5°c or lower[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,800 - 2,300mm, but tolerates 1,200 - 3,000mm[].
Prefers a position sheltered from the sun with plenty of moisture[]. Mature plants should be able to tolerate full sun[], so long as there is plenty of humidity[]. Prefers a rich, moist, well-drained soil[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 5.5, tolerating 4.5 - 6.5[].
A moderately robust species, it usually produces multiple stems (up to 12 stems) though sometimes it only has one stem with a few suppressed suckers at the base[].
A fast-growing plant[].
Plants usually flower throughout the year but the fruit harvesting season is for only 6 months of the year[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. A thin, fibrous, fleshy pulp with little flavour[]. A very nutritious fruit, rich in antioxidants, it is often used to make a drink that is very popular in the Amazon region of Brazil[, ]. The juice is extracted from the small round fruit by soaking the seeds in water to soften the thin outer shell and then squeezing and straining them to produce a very tasty, dense purple liquid[]. This liquid is served ice cold with (or sometimes without) sugar and tapioca flour. It is a nourishing and refreshing drink that is also used to produce ice cream, liquor, mousses and sweets in general[]. The juice is also added to various foods such as tapioca, cassava and porridge[]. The purplish-black fruit is about 15 - 25mm in diameter, and is borne in huge clusters of up to 1,000 fruits[, ].

Leaves - cooked[]. Crunchy, with a sweet flavour[]. Said to resemble artichokes (Cynara scolymus)[, ]. The unexpanded leaves and bud from the crown of the plant are used[]. Harvesting these leaves eventually kills the stem of the plant because it is unable to produce side shoots[], although the plant can produce new stems from its base[].

An edible oil is obtained from the seed[].

Medicinal

A cold water infusion of the wood in the stem is used as an external wash for a contraceptive[].

The sap is styptic. It is used to treat haemorrhages, scorpion bites, and is used in the treatment of wounds and cuts[].

A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of fevers[].

An infusion of whole seedlings is used to treat shot wounds from hunting[].

The central bud, or heart, is roasted and applied topically to soothe the pain of scorpion stings;[]. The juice from the roasted bud should be drunk at the same time[]. Overeating of the heart or pith causes diarrhoea[].
The heart is dried, pulverised and then used in a plaster to cicatrize open cuts[]. The liquid extracted from the warm heart is patted on an open wound[].

The oil from the fruit is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[].

A tea made from the roots is used to treat jaundice and to strengthen the blood[].

A tea made from the seeds is used to treat fevers[].

The fruit is used in a savoury, violet-coloured beverage that is drunk as a refreshant[].

Phenols occur in the heart of palm[].

Other Uses

The leaves are used for weaving mats etc[].

The wood is moderately heavy, soft, splits easily and of low durability when exposed to the elements[]. It is used locally for making rustic buildings, rafters, laths etc[].

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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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?