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Leopoldinia major

Wallace

Jara palm, Yara

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Nelson Wisnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Nelson Wisnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Nelson Wisnik, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Description

A palm which forms clusters. It grows 3-8 m tall. The trunks are 5-10 cm across. The trunks are covered at least near the top are covered with stiff reddish-brown fibres. There are about 11 leaves. They hang down. The fruit are flat and an irregular round shape. They are 3-4 cm across. They are dull orange-red.

Edible Uses

The fruit is burnt and washed to extract a floury substance that is used as salt.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are burnt and washed and a floury substance is extracted which is used as salt.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. They grow on the edges of blackwater rivers in the Amazon.

Where It Grows

Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, South America, Venezuela,

Notes

There are 3 Leopoldinia species.

Also Known As

Chiquichiqui, Jara-acu, Morichita, Iara, Iara-iacu

References (4)

  • Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 376
  • Henderson, A., Galeano, G and Bernal, R., 1995, Field Guide to the Palms of the Americas. Princeton. p 119
  • Paz, F. S., et al, 2021, Edible Fruit Plant Species in the Amazon Forest Rely Mostly on Bees and Beetles as Pollinators. Journal of Economic Entomology, XX(XX), 2021, 1–13
  • Seidemann J., 2005, World Spice Plants. Economic Usage, Botany, Taxonomy. Springer. p 201

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