Wettinia quinaria

(C.F. Cook & Doyle) Burret

Arecaceae Edible: Palm heart, Fruit, Seed 51 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A palm. It has a single stem. It grows 8-15 m tall. The stems are 10-20 cm wide. The leaves are 3-6 m long with 35-60 leaflets on each side. There are 5-7 flowers at each node on the stem. The fruit are green. They are 2-3.5 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. They occur in 4-7 long clusters.

Edible Uses

The palm heart, fruit, and seeds are edible.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet forest up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Andes, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, South America,

Other Uses

The outsides of the stems are hard. They are a popular material for use in making walls and also as posts in construction. The stems are also used for making blowpipes.

Other Information

It is cultivated.

Synonyms

Wettinella quinaria O. F. Cook & DoyleWettinia utilis Little

Also Known As

Ban chi, Bisala, Bunchim Cade, Chinta, Gualte, Gualte bola, Meme, Palmira, Pistula, Yaanchi, Zancona

References (8)

Barfod, A. S. & Kvist, L. P., 1996, Comparative Ethnobotanical Studies of the Amerindian Groups in Coastal Ecuador. The Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters. p 77
Grandtner, M. M. & Chevrette, J., 2013, Dictionary of Trees, Volume 2: South America: Nomenclature, Taxonomy and Ecology. Academic Press p 704
Lopez-Diago, D. & Garcia, N., 2021, Wild edible fruits of Colombia. Biota ColomBiana 22 (2) p 32
Marcia, M. J., et al, 2011, Palm Uses in Northwestern South America: A Quantitative Review. Bot. Rev. (2011) 77:462-570
Palmpedia

Show all 8 references

Roa, J. A. G. & Boada, D. S. G., 2018, Fundación para el Fortalecimiento de la Fruticultura y Plantas Alimenticias no Convencionales en Colombia.
Torre, de la L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 210
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew