Syagrus oleracea

Syagrus oleracea, the guariroba or palmito amargo, is a species of palm native to Brazil.

Description

A tall palm. The trunk is 15-30 m tall. It is 30 cm across. The trunks are straight and almost white. The crown has arching fronds. It is full and round. The leaves are 3 m long. The leaflets occur in clusters. They have long pointed tips. They are 30 cm long. They grow at angles giving a V shape or feather shape. The fruit occur in clusters and are round. They are orange and 4.5 cm across.

Edible Uses

Among its products, the palm heart or terminal bud stands out. Considered by many as a bitter-flavored vegetable — which in fact is when compared to sweet hearts of Atlantic Forest species — the guariroba heart of palm is a delicacy of wide culinary use in some states, including some regions of Goiás and Minas Gerais. In the good recipes of empadão goiano, for example, it is essential to include good pieces of guariroba bitter heart of palm. Substantial food and very strong seasoning, the filling of this pie, together with guariroba, must contain pieces of chicken, preferably thighs, sausages, potatoes and whole boiled eggs or just broken in half and ripe tomatoes. It can also be used as a salad: with cherry tomatoes and plenty of seasoning. Edible oil is extracted from the seed. The plant is also widely used in landscaping in squares and mainly in central flowerbeds of streets and avenues in cities in the interior of Goiás, as an example in the city of Jataí that over the years has been planting thousands of seedlings throughout the city.

Traditional Uses

The bitter palm heart is used in cooking. The fruit are edible raw. The nut is eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The apical bud is bitter, carminative, stomachic and tonic. It is also used to help control the symptoms of hysteria. The fermented pulp of the fruit is used to make a diuretic beverage.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in woodland. It cannot tolerate cold or drought. It needs rich, well drained soil. It grows below 800 m altitude. In XTBG Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Bolivia, Brazil*, China, Paraguay, South America,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and can be used directly as seed. They are only viable for a short time. Seeds germinate after 2-4 months.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a partially shaded position in a nursery seedbed or in individual containers. A very low germination rate can be expected, with the seed sprouting within 60 - 120 days. Seedlings grow away slowly.

Other Uses

The leaves are used to make brooms. An oil from the seeds is used to make a hair dressing that is said to invigorate the hair. The wood is moderately heavy, soft, durable even when exposed to the elements. It is used for stakes, posts, laths and water troughs.

Production

Plants grow at a moderate rate. It yields 3-4 kg of oil-rich kernels containing 50% oil.

Other Information

The fruit are sold in markets.

Notes

There are about 30 Syagrus species.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Catole, Coco-babao, Coco-catole, Coqueiro-guariroba, Coquiero-amargoso, Gariroba, Guariroba, Gueiroba, Gueroba, Iraiba, Palmito-amargoso

References (24)

• Agric. Colon. 10(2):466-467. 1916
• Balick, M.J. and Beck, H.T., (Ed.), 1990, Useful palms of the World. A Synoptic Bibliography. Colombia p 121 (As Cocos oleracea), 131 (As Cocos picrophylla),
• Bortolotto, I. M., et al, 2018, Lista preliminar das plantas alimenticias nativas de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Iheringia, Serie Botanica, Porto Alegre, 73 (supl.):101-116
• Bussmann, R. W., (Ed.), 2020, Biodiverse food plants in the semiarid region of Brazil have unknown potential: A systematic review. Plos ONE 15(5): e0230936
• Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 642

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