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Useful Tropical Plants

Leopoldinia piassaba

Wallace

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Piassaba

Leopoldinia piassaba
Leopoldinia piassaba Leopoldinia piassaba Leopoldinia piassaba Leopoldinia piassaba

General Information

Piassaba is a single-stemmed, evergreen palm tree usually growing 4 - 5 metres tall, but with occasional specimens up to 10 metres. The unbranched stem can be 15cm in diameter; it is topped by a crown of 14 - 16 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 tree is particularly valued for the high-quality fibre it yields. This was at one time exported in quantity to areas such as Europe where, before the advent of plastic, it was widely used for making brooms and brushes[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. The fruit is also used to make a popular local beverage[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

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

Northern S. America - northern Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia.

Habitat

Sandy soils near blackwater rivers and streams, rarely on white-water rivers[
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 *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height10.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

The mesocarp of the fruits is eaten raw or made into a refreshing beverage[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
,
424
Title
The Flowers and UnusuaI lnflorescences of Leopoldinia
Publication
 
Author
Guanchez. F.J.; Romero. G.A.
Publisher
Principes 39 (3), I995, p p.I52 - I58
Year
1995
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the genus Leopoldinia.
]. The thin flesh of the fruit, agitated with water, makes a popular local drink.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the leaf sheath[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. Known as 'piassaba fibre', it is used for making heavy ropes, where it can take the place of manila hemp (Musa textilis)[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. The fibre is also used for making brushes, brooms and baskets[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
424
Title
The Flowers and UnusuaI lnflorescences of Leopoldinia
Publication
 
Author
Guanchez. F.J.; Romero. G.A.
Publisher
Principes 39 (3), I995, p p.I52 - I58
Year
1995
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the genus Leopoldinia.
]. The fibres resist rotting, even after long periods of immersion in water; the Brazilians used them to make cables to navigate the Amazon[
424
Title
The Flowers and UnusuaI lnflorescences of Leopoldinia
Publication
 
Author
Guanchez. F.J.; Romero. G.A.
Publisher
Principes 39 (3), I995, p p.I52 - I58
Year
1995
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the genus Leopoldinia.
]. They are also used for making rope, brooms, brushes and baskets.
The foliar sheaths terminate in long (0.5 - 1.5 metres), pendulous fibres. The fibres at first appear as light brown ribbon-like strips, 2 - I0cm wide, that later split into dark brown to greyish brown individual fibres. These fibres persist and hang, entirely concealing the stem, and giving the tree a most curious and unique appearance[
424
Title
The Flowers and UnusuaI lnflorescences of Leopoldinia
Publication
 
Author
Guanchez. F.J.; Romero. G.A.
Publisher
Principes 39 (3), I995, p p.I52 - I58
Year
1995
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the genus Leopoldinia.
].

The leaves are used for thatch[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. The leaves resist rotting, even after long periods of being wet, and make a very resistant thatch[
424
Title
The Flowers and UnusuaI lnflorescences of Leopoldinia
Publication
 
Author
Guanchez. F.J.; Romero. G.A.
Publisher
Principes 39 (3), I995, p p.I52 - I58
Year
1995
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the genus Leopoldinia.
]. They are, therefore, the most sought after of the local palms[
424
Title
The Flowers and UnusuaI lnflorescences of Leopoldinia
Publication
 
Author
Guanchez. F.J.; Romero. G.A.
Publisher
Principes 39 (3), I995, p p.I52 - I58
Year
1995
ISBN
 
Description
Information on the genus Leopoldinia.
].

The nuts, which are a source of vegetable ivory, are encased in a hard, botryoidal shell which itself takes a nice polish. These shells are mostly 3 - 4cm in diameter and are 5 - 8cm long. The nuts are smaller and are loose in the shells. They have a fine delicate dark veining and are quite beautiful when turned or polished.

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-07. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Leopoldinia+piassaba>

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