 It is a palm which can typically grow to 20 m or taller, with
pinnate leaves 3 m long on a 1 m long petiole. The fruit is a drupe
with an edible pulp surrounding the single seed, 4–6 cm long and 3–5
cm broad. The rind (epicarp) of the wild palm's fruit can be red,
yellow, or orange when the fruit is ripe depending on the variety of
the palm.
Uses and ecology
B. gasipaes is well known by the native population where it grows,
and it has been used for centuries as food. The fruit is frequently
stewed in salted water. However, it may be eaten raw, peeled and
dressed with salt and honey, used to make compotes and jellies, or
also used to make flour and edible oil.
Many species of birds feed on this wild palm, notably macaws,
parrots and parakeets, all members of the family Psittacidae. Some
of these are endemic species, which are in danger of extinction.
Because the huge importance of B. gasipaes for the native
populations, there are numerous common names for this plant in
several languages and many countries. For example, in English:
peach-palm or pewa (Trinidad and Tobago), peyibay(e), and pejivalle;
in Spanish: pejibaye (Costa Rica, Nicaragua), chontaduro or
chantaduro, (Colombia, Ecuador), pijuayo (Peru), pijiguao
(Venezuela), tembé (Bolivia), pixbae (pronounced pibá) (Panama), and
in Portuguese: pupunheira, and pupunha (Brazil).
This plant may also be harvested for heart of palm, and has
commercial advantages in being fast growing; the first harvest can
be from 18 to 24 months after planting. In Brazil, it is a viable
solution for the heart of palm cultivation industry because its
agricultural characteristics are adequate for it to be beneficial to
substitute it for other native palms such as species of Euterpe
including Euterpe oleracea (known as açaí) and Euterpe edulis (known
as juçara), that have been extensively exploited and are protected
as endangered species. The Brazilian domestic market for heart of
palm is about five times bigger than the external one; however,
there is an increasing demand for this product internationally as it
is increasingly used in international cookery. In addition, the
cultivation of Bactris gasipaes is also economically important for
Costa Rica.
Composition of 100 g of pulp
164 calories, 2.5 g of protein, 28 mg of calcium, 31 mg of
phosphorus, 3.3 mg of iron, 1,500 mmg of vitamin A, 0.06 mg of
vitamin B1 and 34 mg of vitamin C. |
