Attalea brasiliensis

Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah) brasiliensis (brah-zihl-ee-EHN-siss)
New Odessa - São Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Mário Franco, edric.
Scientific Classification
Genus: Attalea (at-tahl-EH-ah) Species: brasiliensis (brah-zihl-ee-EHN-siss)
Synonyms
None set.
Native Continent
America
Morphology
Habit: Solitary Leaf type: Pinnate
Culture
Survivability index
Common names
Babassu, Indaiá palm

Habitat and Distribution

Brazil, (Goiás).

Edilândia - Goiás - Brasil. Photo João Medeiros.

Attalea brasiliensis is a species of Cerrado highly restricted geographic distribution, this species forms large population in the region Fercal, APA and Cafuringa Northern Federal District. The species is endemic to Brazil, occurring in the Cerrado, in the state of Goiás and the Federal District. The species is found in Goiás, 23,5 km north of the center of Brasilia in limestone area of remnant deciduous forest, on dry Savanna. The species occurs in riparian and / or gallery forest and deciduous forest. Restricted, however, the soils derived from limestone. Present at EOO of 2014.3 km² and AOO only 12 km², and occurs in less than five threatening situations. Cerrado The Federal District is rapidly being deforested, which points to a decline in the extent and quality of the habitat of the species. Indaiá can only be found in central Brazil in cerrado formations and only at the northeastern part of the Goiás state. (cncflora.jbrj.gov.br)

Description

Tree, terrestrial, solitary stem, 12 to 20 m tall. Stem; 30 to 40 cm in diameter. 15 to 20 leaves in the crown.

Culture

LIGHT: full sun. WATER: Keep slightly moist, never soggy soil. requires consistently moist soil. Cold Hardiness Zone: 10b

Comments and Curiosities

Phenology: this species blooms from January to March and fruits in March.

Conservation: A. brasiliensis is suffering a decline in the number of mature individuals. Several areas that held significant remnants of native vegetation from the foundation of Brasilia, disappeared in recent years, and continues to decline rapidly. In UNESCO (2000) it is recorded that, in just 44 years (1954 to 1998 assessment), the DF has lost 57.6% of its forest cover and the cerrado category was hardest hit, with 73.8% loss. The species was considered "Critically Endangered". (cncflora.jbrj.gov.br)

Uses: Alimentary: Gums and resins. The seeds are edible and used for oil extraction. Making of tools and utensils: The endocarp of the fruit is used in crafts, the leaves are used to cover rural buildings. (cncflora.jbrj.gov.br)

Annually produces up to 6 spadix (clusters) per tree, with a lot of fruit.