Attalea exigua
Drude
Babacu, Catole, Indaia rasteir
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Description
A palm. The stems are short and underground. They can be in clusters. There are 4-8 leaves. These arch over. The leaflets are arranged in clusters and spread in different planes. The flowering stalks are borne among the leaves. The male flowers have flattened petals. The fruit have 1-2 seeds. They are oval. The fruit are 4-6 cm long by 3-5.5 cm across. They are reddish-orange and become dark purple at maturity.
Edible Uses
The fruit is used to sweeten food.
Traditional Uses
The fruit are used to sweeten food.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in open locations below 800 m altitude.
Where It Grows
Brazil, South America,
Notes
There are between (22) 30-71 Attalea species. Some authorities divide them among Attalea, Orbignya, Scheela and Maximiliana.
References (4)
- Henderson, A., Galeano, G and Bernal, R., 1995, Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton. p 161
- Janick, J. & Paul, R. E. (Eds.), 2008, The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts. CABI p 91
- Johnson, D.V., 1998, Tropical palms. Non-wood Forest products 10. FAO Rome. p 91
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 107
