Bactris gasipaes var. gasipaes

  • Authority

    Henderson, A. 2000. (Palmae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 79: 1-181. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Arecaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bactris gasipaes var. gasipaes

  • Synonyms

    Martinezia ciliata Ruiz & Pav., Guilielma speciosa Mart., Guilielma insignis Mart., Guilielma chontaduro H.Karst. & Triana, Guilielma utilis Oerst., Guilielma speciosa var. flava Mart., Guilielma speciosa var. coccinea Mart., Guilielma speciosa var. mitis Mart., Guilielma speciosa var. ochracea Mart., Bactris ciliata (Ruiz & Pav.) Mart., Guilielma ciliata (Ruiz & Pav.) Kerch. ex H.Wendl., Bactris speciosa (Mart.) H.Karst., Bactris insignis (Mart.) Baill., Bactris utilis (Oerst.) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Hemsl., Guilielma gasipaes var. flava (Barb.Rodr.) L.H.Bailey, Guilielma gasipaes var. coccinea (Barb.Rodr.) L.H.Bailey, Guilielma gasipaes var. ochracea (Barb.Rodr.) L.H.Bailey

  • Description

    Variety Description - Fruits broadly ovoid, 3.5-6.5 × 3-4.5(-6) cm, yellow, orange or red.

  • Discussion

    The fruits of Bactris gasipaes are an important part of the diet in many parts of tropical America. Historically they were much more important to indigenous peoples, not only as a source of food but also in rituals and ceremonies (e.g., Reichel-Dolmatoff, 1989). Currently fruits and palm hearts are important commercially. A wealth of information on this variety is given in Mora Urpí et al. (1993).

    Bernal (1989) proposed conservation of Bactris gasipaes Kunth against the older, overlooked name Martinezia ciliata Ruiz & Pavon, and his proposal was accepted (Brummitt, 1993). The holotype of M. ciliata consists of a leaf fragment and two endocarps. One of these is ellipsoid and 1.6-1.7 cm long, the other subglobose and 1.2 cm diameter (R. Bernal, pers, comm.). It is possible that one endocarp belongs to var. gasipaes and the other to var. chichagui, but it is not possible to be sure.

  • Common Names

    chima, Chonta, chonta de castilla, huanima, tembé, woy, pupunha, chontadura, corozo, pejibaye, pejivalle, chonta pala, pejibaye, supa, nalup, pisbacilla, pijuayo, uwí, pijibaya, pijiguao, pijiwau

  • Distribution

    Widely and commonly cultivated throughout tropical areas of Central and northern South America (Fig. 29A), and almost always associated with current or past human dwellings, at 25-1200 m elevation.

    Honduras Central America| Atlántida Honduras Central America| Gracias a Dios Honduras Central America| Nicaragua Central America| Zelaya Nicaragua Central America| Costa Rica South America| Heredia Costa Rica Central America| Limón Costa Rica Central America| Colón Panama Central America| Darién Panamá Central America| Panamá Panama Central America| San Blás Panama Central America| Colombia South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Caquetá Colombia South America| Chocó Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Norte de Santander Colombia South America| Putumayo Colombia South America| Valle del Cauca Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| French Guiana South America| Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Amazonas Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Ucayali Peru South America| Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America|