Leopoldinia major

Wallace

Jara palm, Yara

Arecaceae Edible: Fruit 35 iNaturalist observations

iNaturalist· 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