Euterpe edulis Mart.

  • Authority

    Henderson, A. & Galeano, Gloria A. 1996. , , and (Palmae). Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 72: 1-90. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Arecaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Euterpe edulis Mart.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Bahia: nr. Ilhéus, Dec 1818, Martius s.n. (holotype, M; isotype, P; F neg. 18556).

  • Synonyms

    Euterpe espiritosantensis H.Q.B.Fern., Euterpe edulis var. clausa Mattos

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems solitary, or rarely cespitose and then with few stems, erect, 5-12 m tall, 10-15 cm diam., usually gray with lichens, with a dense cone of reddish brown roots at base, these 1-2 cm diam. Leaves 8-15, spreading; sheath 0.8-1.4 m long including a 2-3 cm long ligule, olive green to dark green, sometimes reddish or orange-tinged, glabrous or with reddish brown scales; petiole 13-54 cm long, densely to moderately covered with flat, brown, reddish brown or black scales; rachis 1.5-3 m long, with few to many scales like those of petiole; pinnae 38-62(-70) per side, spreading or pendulous, subopposite, regularly arranged, rarely somewhat clustered, with prominent midvein and submarginal lateral veins present either side, the midvein with brown ramenta abaxially, with obscure or prominent punctations abaxially; basal pinna 29-50 x 0.5-0.8 cm; middle pinnae 49-80(-106) x 1.5-4 cm; apical pinna 15-35 x 0.6-1 cm. Inflorescences infrafoliar and ± horizontal at anthesis; peduncle 4-8.5 cm long, 1.5-2 cm diam.; prophyll to 1 m long; peduncular bract 61-65(-104) cm long including a 1 cm long umbo, with smaller, incomplete bracts to 4 cm long present on peduncle and rachis; rachis 45-69 cm long; rachillae 49-110(-120), 26-58(-75) cm long, to 2 mm diam. at anthesis, 3-4.5 mm diam. in fruit, arranged all round the rachis, zig-zag especially near apex, light brown or reddish brown when dry, densely covered with 0.1 mm long, rounded, granular hairs; flowers in triads for ca. 2/3 of the rachillae, paired or solitary staminate distally, the triads often distichously arranged; triad bracteole rounded, to 1 mm long; first flower bracteole obscure, second and third flower bracteoles unequal, the longest to 1.5 mm long; staminate flowers 5-6 mm long, purplish; sepals deltate, 2 mm long, gibbous; petals lanceolate, 5 mm long; stamens arranged on a short receptacle; filaments 1.5-22.5 mm long, flattened; anthers 2.5-3 mm long; pistillode ca. 1 mm long, trifid at apex; pistillate flowers 3-4.5 mm long; sepals very widely ovate, 3-4 mm long; petals very widely ovate, 5 mm long; fruits globose, 1-1.4 cm diam., the stigmatic remains subapical; epicarp black at maturity, minutely tuberculate; seeds globose; endosperm homogeneous; eophyll palmate.

  • Discussion

    Plants from near Santa Theresa in Espírito Santo, Brazil, were described by Boudet Fernandes (1989) as a new species, Euterpe espiritosantensis. In our treatment we consider that the characters used to define the new species fall into the range of variation of Euterpe edulis. This taxon, like most other species in the genus, is wide ranging and variable, with many local races and forms. One interesting feature of this form is that the pinnae are sometimes loosely clustered.

    Local names and uses. Argentina: yayih; Brazil: coco de palmito, coco de jissara, coco de usara, ensarova, içara, inçara, iuçara, jiçara, jocara, jucoara, juçara, juçara vermelho, juçara branca, junça, palmiteiro, palmeteiro branco, palmeteiro encapado, palmeteiro macho, palmeteiro vermelho, palmeteiro-doce, palmito, palmito-doce, palmito-juçara, palmito amarelo, palmito vermelho, ripa, ripeira; Paraguay: palmito, yayi.

    Euterpe edulis was for many years the most important species for the extraction of palm heart and was the industry standard. Records show that in 1965 Paraguay exported 3205 metric tons of palm heart (representing the destruction of several million trees); and in 1968-1970 Brazil exported an annual average of 2650 metric tons (Landini & Landini, 1976; Kitze & Johnson, 1975). All the harvest was from wild plants, and populations of E. edulis have shrunk drastically as a result. There is now much research in Brazil on conservation and cultivation of E. edulis (e.g., Anonymous, 1987). Hybrids have been made between this species and E. oleracea (Bovi et al., 1987). It is perhaps not generally appreciated that populations of E. edulis exist with cespitose stems (e.g., Noblick & Brito 4800), and these should be investigated for cultivation.

    Other minor uses include stems that are used in construction, leaves for thatching, and fruits made into a drink.

    Distribution and Ecology: Atlantic coast of Brazil and adjacent areas (Alagoas, Bahia, Distrito Federal, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Paraná, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Sergipe) and just reaching northeastern Argentina (Misiones) and southeastern Paraguay (Alto Paraná) (Fig. 16); rain forest on steep slopes, rarely in inundated areas, at 0-1000 m. This species can form large stands on ridges and valley slopes, especially on quartzite and sandy soils. It also colonizes areas where the forest has been disturbed.

  • Distribution

    Misiones Argentina South America| Distrito Federal Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America| Goiás Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Paraná Brazil South America| Rio de Janeiro Brazil South America| Santa Catarina Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Alto Paraná Paraguay South America|