Common Name:

General Information

Parajubaea torallyi is an evergreen, single-stemmed palm tree growing 20 - 26 metres tall. The slender, unbranched stem can be 25 - 50cm in diameter, topped by a rosette of 15 - 18 leaves up to 5 metres long[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its edible seeds which are eaten locally. Very popular, they are often sold in local markets[].
There is little evidence of regeneration of this species: most stands almost completely lack seedlings and juveniles. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

S. America - Bolivia.

Habitat

Scattered in dry forest on steep rocky slopes of sandstone, at elevations from 2,400 - 3,400 metres in inter-Andean valleys[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	22.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of high elevations in the tropics, growing in sheltered ravines above 2,000 metres. Despite it being very dry in the region, with rain in only 2 - 4 months of the year, the ravines themselves are very humid[]. Plants experience sub-zero temperatures in their native range and it should therefore be possible to grow them in warm temperate zones that only experience occasional light frosts[]. They probably require a cool summer and quickly lose vigour in areas where night temperatures do not fall below 13°c[].
Requires a sunny, sheltered position[, ]. Grows best in a light, well-drained soil but with plenty of water in the growing season[, ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
This species has a deep penetrating root system and generally establishes best when planted out at a young stage. It is not suitable for container cultivation[]. Older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[], so if the plants can be protected from frosts in their earlier years it might be possible to grow them in areas at the limit of their cold tolerance.
Plants are relatively fast-growing for a palm and can produce fruit in 7 - 9 years from seed[]. Trees are deep rooted[].

Edible Uses

Seed - raw[]. Sweet and fleshy[].

An oil is expressed from the seeds[].

The apical bud is eaten as a vegetable[, ]. Eating this bud leads to the death of the tree since it is unable to produce side shoots[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are woven to make baskets and fans[].

Fibres obtained from the leaf sheaths and petioles are used to make ropes, twine, mattresses and donkey panniers[].
A fibre can be obtained from the trunk[]. Formerly, the stems were split in two and then cut into pieces 1 metre long, in order to extract and grind the internal fibres with an axe, and finally to weave ropes from the fibres[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. It usually germinates freely. Stored seed is more difficult to germinate, it should be pre-soaked for 24 hours in warm water before sowing. The seedlings quickly send down a large taproot and so need to be in deep pots[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into deep, individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Traditionally, the seeds are allowed to dry completely for a couple of months in a cool, dry place. They are then planted on top of a loose, moist soil mix, under a 5 - 8cm blanket of moist sphagnum in a place which is cool at night and warm in the day. This helps with oxygen exchange in and out of the seed coat, which breaks down natural growth inhibitors in the seed. Germination can begin within a few weeks[].
If the seeds do not germinate within a few months, store them dry again for a few months in a cool, dry place. Then soak them for 7 days in warm water and resow[].

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