Butia odorata

(Barb. Rodr.) Noblick & Pirani

Southern jelly palm, Butia-branco, Butia-miudo, Butia-azedo

Arecaceae Edible: Fruit 1,257 iNaturalist observations

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iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

Summary

Butia odorata, also known as the South American jelly palm, jelly palm, or pindo palm, is a Butia palm native to southernmost Brazil and Uruguay. This slow-growing palm grows up to 10m, although it is often less tall. It is identifiable by its feather palm pinnate leaves that arch inwards towards a thick stout trunk.

Description

A solitary palm. It is erect and grows 3-6 m tall. The stem is ringed by persistent leaf bases. There are 7-3 leaves. The edges have teeth. There are 35-60 leaflets on each side. The form a V shape. The fruiting stalk comes from within the leaves. The fruit have a juicy pulp.

Edible Uses

It is cultivated as a fruit tree in Brazil and Uruguay, and especially the larger-fruited, semi-domesticated, pulposa-type plants are reasonably common in local orchards. In the type most often grown in the USA, the ripe fruit are about the size of large cherry, and yellowish/orange in colour, but can also include a blush towards the tip. The taste is a mixture of pineapple, apricot, and vanilla. Taste can vary depending on soil conditions, and the tastes of apple, pineapple, and banana together is also common. It is tart and sweet at the same time, with a flesh similar to a loquat, but slightly more fibrous.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are used for juice.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It is a subtropical plant.

Where It Grows

Brazil*, South America, Uruguay,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in containers. Stored seed is very slow to germinate. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing may shorten the germination time. Plants form a long tap-root some time before forming a shoot. Germination of fresh seed usually takes place in 3 - 4 months at 25°c. 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 Information

It is a cultivated fruit tree. The fruit are popular.

Notes

There are about 9 Butea species.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	80	—	—	0.6	—	—	—	—

Synonyms

Cocos odorata Barb. Rodr.Butia capitata var. odorata (Barb. Rodr.) Becc.

Also Known As

Butiazeiro-da-praia

References (3)

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
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.
Lorenzi, H., Bacher, L., Lacerda, M. & Sartori, S., 2006, Brazilian Fruits & Cultivated Exotics. Sao Paulo, Instituto Plantarum de Estuados da Flora Ltda. p 74