Perennial Edible Fruits C2P48

Utilization: Pulp cooked, preserved. Seed eaten fresh, cooked. Flavor nutty, oily; high appeal. Rich in oil, vitamin A. Good source of hearts of palm. Good potential for commercial cultivation. Variety collection at Turrialba, Costa Rica.

References: Camacho 1969, Fouqué 1974, Hunter 1969, Johanessen 1967.

Hyphaene thebaica Mart.
Common names: doum palm, gingerbread palm (English).

Origin: North Africa.

Distribution: Africa, Middle East, elsewhere in plant collections.

Cultural requirements: Dry tropical or subtropical climate.

Description: Palm, branched trunk, to 10 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit ovoid, 8 cm long, exterior color brown.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, mixed with other foods. Endosperm of immature seeds eaten fresh. High protein and oil content. Locally important but little potential for expansion.

References: Dalziel 1948, Irvine 1961.

Jubaea chilensis Baill. (= J. spectabilis H.B.K.)
Common names: Chilean wine palm (English); coco de Chile, coquito (Spanish); cocotier du Chile (French).

Origin: Chile.

Distribution: Introduced into warm Temperate Zone areas and subtropical areas of world but not common.

Cultural requirements: Warm temperate, cool subtropical, or high altitude tropical climate. Very cold tolerant.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 20 m. Fruit 4-5 cm long, 3 cm in diameter, exterior color yellow.

Utilization: Sirup and wine made from sap of trunk; flavor excellent. Little potential for cultivation as food crop, but used as ornamental. Wild population in danger of extinction because tree must be destroyed to obtain sap.

Reference: Fouqué 1974.

Lodoicea maldivica Pers.
Common names: double coconut, Seychelles nut (English).

Origin: Seychelles.

Distribution: Introduced Into various palm collections in Tropics.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands; various soil conditions.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 30 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit production in 20 years or more. Dioecious. Fruit bilobed, 40 cm or more in diameter, 20 kg or more; external color brown, edible portion white.

Utilization: Endosperm of seed eaten fresh. Limited appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.

Mauritia flexuosa L.
Common names: wine palm, mirity palm (English); aguaje, achual (Spanish); palmier bache (French); miriti (Portuguese).

Origin: Northeastern South America.

Distribution: South America.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands;poorly drained or periodically flooded soils.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 25 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit 4-6 cm long; external color yellow to reddish brown, internal yellow to orange.

Utilization: Pulp of immature fruit eaten fresh. Endosperm of seed eaten fresh. Starch extracted from trunk. Significant source of food in native area. Little potential for wider cultivation.

References: Cavalcante 1974, Fouqué 1974.

Mauritia vinifera Mart.
Common names: moriche palm (English); aguaje, morichi (Spanish); palmier bache (French); Buriti (Portuguese).

Origin: South America.

Distribution: South America.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical climate; acid soils.

Description: Palm, single trunk, to 30 m. Propagation by seed. Fruit 4-6 cm long.

Utilization: Fruit pulp fermented into wine. Little potential for wider cultivation.

Nipa fruticans Thunb.
Common names: nipa palm (English), Olga (India).

Origin: Tropical Asia.

Distribution: Tropical Asia; introduced into plant collections elsewhere.

Cultural requirements: Hot, wet tropical lowlands; grows in tidal areas where soil inundated with saltwater.

Description: Palm, prostrate trunk buried in soil. Propagation by seed.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics