Butia eriospatha
(Mart.) Becc.
Butia, Woolly butia palm
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(c) Alan Hentz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alan Hentz
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Douglas Meyer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Douglas Meyer
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Douglas Meyer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Douglas Meyer
Summary
Source: WikipediaButia eriospatha is a small species of Butia palm endemic to the highlands of southern Brazil. It is very similar to B. odorata, but is easily distinguished from this species by the distinct spathes which are densely covered in rust-coloured, woolly hairs. Indeed, the specific epithet is derived from Greek ἔριον, wool, and Latin spatha, which refers to the spathe. It has been given the name woolly jelly palm (UK) or wooly jelly palm (US) in English. Vernacular names for it where it is native are butiá-da-serra, butiázeiro, butiá-veludo, butiá butiá verdadeiro, butiá-do-campo, yatáy and macumá.
Description
A solitary palm. It grows 3-6 m tall. They are 50 cm across and rough. There are 25-30 leaves. They arch over. The leaf stalk has coarse spines along the edges. There are 50-90 leaflets on each side of the leaf. The leaflets are regularly arranged and spread our stiffly forming a V shape. The bract has a dense brown covering on the outer side. There are about 125 flowering branches. The fruit are round and 1.7-1.9 cm across. They are yellowish.
Edible Uses
Butia eriospatha is reasonably available in Europe as an ornamental. It is often used in mild temperate climates as a hardy palm for its exotic look. Products obtained from the palm are used locally and are not widely marketed. The fruit pulp is used as a base to make beverages. A wine is made from the palm, as are juices and jellies/jams. Fibres were once harvested from this palm, which were used to make mattresses. Plantations of this palm were planted in the 1950s in Brazil for this purpose.
Traditional Uses
The fruit is edible raw. They can be used for jellies and jams. The nut is edible. The nut is also used for oil. Fruit used to flavour alcoholic drinks. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer.
Distribution
A tropical plant. They grow in open areas and in Araucaria forests. In Argentina it grows between 700-1,100 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. In XTBG Yunnan. In Townsville palmetum.
Where It Grows
Argentina, Asia, Australia, Brazil*, China, South America,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from fresh seed. Seed can take a long time to germinate. They can take 3-6 month to germinate.
Propagation
Seed - takes a few weeks, to several months, to germinate. Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 90 - 180 days. Plant out into deep pots or the open ground either as soon as root growth is noticed or as soon as top growth appears.
Other Uses
A fibre is obtained from the leaves. It is used for making ropes. The leaves are used for weaving into hats, baskets etc, and as a filling for mattresses or as a stuffing material in general. The wood is moderately heavy, hard, very fibrous and of good durability if kept dry. It is only used locally in rustic constructions.
Production
Plants grow slowly.
Other Information
Fruit are popular.
Notes
There are about 9 Butea species.
Nutrition
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit | 86.8 | 192 | 46 | 0.8 | — | 44.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Fruit | 88.2 | — | — | 1.1 | — | — | — | — |
| Nuts | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Synonyms
Also Known As
Butia-da-serra, Butiazeiro, Butia-veludo, Butia-branco, Butia-azedo
References (15)
- Barbieri, R. L., et al, 2014, Agricultural Biodiversity in Southern Brazil: Integrating Efforts for Conservation and Use of Neglected and Underutilized Species. Sustainability 6:741-757
- Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 69
- Brack, P., et al, 2020, Frutas nativas do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil: riqueza e potencial alimentício. Native fruits of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: richness and potential as food. Rodriguésia 71: e03102018.
- Brazil: Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition
- Coradin, L. et al (Eds), 2011, Especies Nativas da Flora Brasileira de Valor Economico Atual ou Potencial. Brasilia MMA. p 130
Show all 15 references Hide references
- Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 271
- Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 82
- Haynes, J., & McLaughlin, J., 2000, Edible palms and Their Uses. University of Florida Fact sheet MCDE-00-50-1 p 4
- Henderson, A., Galeano, G and Bernal, R., 1995, Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton. p 137
- Hunter, D., et al, 2019, The potential of neglected and underutilized species for improving diets and nutrition. Planta (2019) 250:709-729
- Johnson, D.V., 1998, Tropical palms. Non-wood Forest products 10. FAO Rome. p 85 (As Brahea eriospatha ?)
- Leal, M. L. et al, 2018, Knowledge, use, and disuse of unconventional food plants. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine (2018) 14:6
- Lorenzi, H., 2002, Brazilian Trees. A Guide to the Identification and Cultivation of Brazilian Native Trees. Vol. 01 Nova Odessa, SP, Instituto Plantarum p 292
- Lorenzi, H., Bacher, L., Lacerda, M. & Sartori, S., 2006, Brazilian Fruits & Cultivated Exotics. Sao Paulo, Instituto Plantarum de Estuados da Flora Ltda. p 73
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
