If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Oenocarpus bataua

Mart.

Arecaceae

+ Synonyms

Jessenia bataua (Mart.) Burret

Jessenia oligocarpa Griseb. & H.Wendl.

Jessenia polycarpa H.Karst.

Jessenia repanda Engl.

Jessenia weberbaueri Burret

Oenocarpus batawa Wallace

Oenocarpus oligocarpus (Griseb. & H.Wendl.) Wess.Boer

Oenocarpus seje Cuervo Márquez

Common Name: Pataua Palm

Oenocarpus bataua
Plants growing in native habitat
Photograph by: scott.zona
Creative Commons License
Oenocarpus bataua Oenocarpus bataua Oenocarpus bataua Oenocarpus bataua Oenocarpus bataua

General Information

Oenocarpus bataua is an attractive, fast-growing, evergreen, single-stemmed feather palm growing from 5 - 35 metres tall. The unbranched stem can be 15 - 45cm in diameter; it is topped by a crown of very large leaves, each up to 8 metres long and arranged in an upright 'shuttlecock' type of pattern[
314
Title
Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
,
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
,
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.
].
A multipurpose tree, it is extensively harvested for food, oil and many other purposes. Mainly wild stands are utilized, but the plant has also been experimentally cultivated in Venezuela and Colombia and has often been highly recommended for cultivation as an oil and fruit crop[
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.
,
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.
].

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 - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama; Caribbean - Trinidad.

Habitat

Rainforest[
314
Title
Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
]. Tropical rainforests of South America, in a wide range of growing conditions from swampy lowlands to mountainous regions[
370
Title
Minor Oil Crops
Publication
 
Author
Axtell. B.L.; Fairman. R.M.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5043E/x5043E00.htm#Contents
Publisher
FAO; Rome.
Year
1992
ISBN
92-5-103128-2
Description
A well-written small guide that includes information on over 20 species. Also available for download from the internet.
]. Found in both inundated and non-inundated areas[
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 *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height20.00 m
Growth RateFast
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of low to moderate elevations in the humid tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,350 metres[
314
Title
Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
,
370
Title
Minor Oil Crops
Publication
 
Author
Axtell. B.L.; Fairman. R.M.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5043E/x5043E00.htm#Contents
Publisher
FAO; Rome.
Year
1992
ISBN
92-5-103128-2
Description
A well-written small guide that includes information on over 20 species. Also available for download from the internet.
]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 21 - 28°c, but can tolerate 17 - 32°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about 5°c[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates 1,500 - 6,300mm[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
Requires a sunny position and a moist soil[
314
Title
Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.pacsoa.org.au/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains at least a little information on the majority of palm and cycad species, plus a wealth of photographs. A first class website.
]. Very young plants require a shady position, becoming more light-demanding as they grow older[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 4.8 - 5.5, tolerating 4.3 - 6.5[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].

Edible Uses

A light greenish-yellow oil is obtained from the fruit[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. Used as a salad or cooking oil317]. Very stable, it does not easily turn rancid[
370
Title
Minor Oil Crops
Publication
 
Author
Axtell. B.L.; Fairman. R.M.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5043E/x5043E00.htm#Contents
Publisher
FAO; Rome.
Year
1992
ISBN
92-5-103128-2
Description
A well-written small guide that includes information on over 20 species. Also available for download from the internet.
]. It is almost identical with olive oil[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
370
Title
Minor Oil Crops
Publication
 
Author
Axtell. B.L.; Fairman. R.M.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5043E/x5043E00.htm#Contents
Publisher
FAO; Rome.
Year
1992
ISBN
92-5-103128-2
Description
A well-written small guide that includes information on over 20 species. Also available for download from the internet.
]. Used in cooking and as a colouring for chocolates[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. Traditionally, the oil is extracted by pounding the fruit, boiling it in water and skimming off the oil as it floats on the surface[
370
Title
Minor Oil Crops
Publication
 
Author
Axtell. B.L.; Fairman. R.M.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5043E/x5043E00.htm#Contents
Publisher
FAO; Rome.
Year
1992
ISBN
92-5-103128-2
Description
A well-written small guide that includes information on over 20 species. Also available for download from the internet.
].

Fruit - a sweet flavour46]. The thin, oily mesocarp has a chocolate-like flavour, and is very popular[
355
Title
Rainforest Conservation Fund
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.rainforestconservation.org/data_sheets/agroforestry/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on usage and Agroforestry notes, coupled with some good photos.
]. It is usually soaked before eating to soften the pulp[
355
Title
Rainforest Conservation Fund
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.rainforestconservation.org/data_sheets/agroforestry/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on usage and Agroforestry notes, coupled with some good photos.
]. The fleshy fruit can be eaten fried[
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 about 3cm long and 2cm wide[
416
Title
Brazilian Fruits and Cultivated Exotics
Publication
 
Author
Lorenzi. H.; Bacher. L.; Lacerda. M.; Sartori. S.
Publisher
Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora LTDA; Brazil.
Year
2000
ISBN
85-867174-24-0
Description
A superb book, giving information on several hundred fruit species. Each entry has a brief description of the plant and its uses, accompanied by one to many excellent quality photographs of the fruits.
].
A nutritious protein- and oil-rich beverage (agua de seche) is made from the fruit pulp[
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.
]. It is sometimes made into an alcoholic drink by fermentation[
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.
]. A nutritious milk-like beverage is made by mixing the juice of the pulp with manioc meal[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
].

Seed - cooked[
324
Title
Edible Nuts.
Publication
Non-Wood Forest Products, Handbook 5
Author
Wickens G.E.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/
Publisher
FAO, Rome.
Year
1995
ISBN
92-5-103748-5
Description
Detailed information on 20 of the most valuable nut crops, plus more basic information on a wide range of other nut-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Eaten mainly by poor people[
324
Title
Edible Nuts.
Publication
Non-Wood Forest Products, Handbook 5
Author
Wickens G.E.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/
Publisher
FAO, Rome.
Year
1995
ISBN
92-5-103748-5
Description
Detailed information on 20 of the most valuable nut crops, plus more basic information on a wide range of other nut-producing plants. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Leaves - cooked[
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.
,
763
Title
Heart of Palm Use: A Family Survey
Publication
 
Author
Scott Zona, Ph.D.
Website
http://www.virtualherbarium.org/palmresearch/Hearts_of_Palm_table.html
Publisher
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Virtual Herbarium.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line article listing the botanical names and range of palm trees that have an edible apical bud.
]. The apical bud, often known as a 'palm heart', is eaten as a vegetable[
763
Title
Heart of Palm Use: A Family Survey
Publication
 
Author
Scott Zona, Ph.D.
Website
http://www.virtualherbarium.org/palmresearch/Hearts_of_Palm_table.html
Publisher
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Virtual Herbarium.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line article listing the botanical names and range of palm trees that have an edible apical bud.
]. 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

The fruits are soaked in warm water to soften, the seed coat is removed, and the remainder is macerated in cold water, strained, and drunk or used as a tonic[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

The oil obtained from the fruit is used medicinally[
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.
]. It is used as a carrier oil - the wood chips of Schefflera morototoni are steeped in the oil and then the oil is massaged into the back to relieve pain in the vertebral column[
348
Title
Medicinal Plants of the Guianas
Publication
 
Author
DeFilipps, R. A.; Maina, S. L.; & Crepin, J.
Website
http://botany.si.edu/bdg/medicinal/index.html
Publisher
Smithsonian Museum
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A down-loadable PDF document of a book in pre-publication awaiting illustration. An excellent, if rather terse, guide to the traditional medicinal uses of the plants of the region
].

The oil from the seed is purgative and is also used to treat tuberculosis[
739
Title
Medicinal Plants of Brazil
Publication
 
Author
Mors W.B.; Rizzini C.T.; Pereira N.A.
Publisher
Reference Publications; Michigan.
Year
2000
ISBN
0-917256-42-5
Description
An extremely concise book, listing approximately 1,500 species and varieties of plants with their botanical name, common name in Brazil, regions in Brazil where the plant is found, a brief list of uses and any medically active compounds in the plant.
].

The hard endosperm is crushed and eaten to cure snake bites[
355
Title
Rainforest Conservation Fund
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.rainforestconservation.org/data_sheets/agroforestry/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on usage and Agroforestry notes, coupled with some good photos.
].

Other Uses

The kernels yield an edible oil, somewhat similar to olive oil, that can also be made into soap and is used in the cosmetic industry[
370
Title
Minor Oil Crops
Publication
 
Author
Axtell. B.L.; Fairman. R.M.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5043E/x5043E00.htm#Contents
Publisher
FAO; Rome.
Year
1992
ISBN
92-5-103128-2
Description
A well-written small guide that includes information on over 20 species. Also available for download from the internet.
].

The fronds of the palm are used for thatching[
370
Title
Minor Oil Crops
Publication
 
Author
Axtell. B.L.; Fairman. R.M.
Website
http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5043E/x5043E00.htm#Contents
Publisher
FAO; Rome.
Year
1992
ISBN
92-5-103128-2
Description
A well-written small guide that includes information on over 20 species. Also available for download from the internet.
].
The leaves are used for making walls and baskets[
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.
,
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 hair-like fibres of the leaves are used to produce ropes for the navy[
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 spine-like fibres of the leaf sheath are made into darts for the blowpipe[
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.
,
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.
].

A dark blue dye is obtained from the fruit[
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 wood is utilized for the manufacture of bows and arrow points[
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 trunks are exploited for construction[
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.
,
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 wood of the stem is split and used for floors, and for other construction needs[
355
Title
Rainforest Conservation Fund
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.rainforestconservation.org/data_sheets/agroforestry/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on usage and Agroforestry notes, coupled with some good photos.
].

Propagation

Seed - requires a shady position[
418
Title
Ecocrop
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-13. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Oenocarpus+bataua>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.