Pataua, Bacaba, White bacaba
Oenocarpus distichus

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

Oenocarpus distichus is an evergreen Tree growing to 8 m (26ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 8

Where it is found

Dryland forests and the transitional vegetation of the savannahs. Lowland rainforest, as well as in somewhat drier areas on the margins on savannah. Grows in areas not subject to seasonal inundation at elevations up to 350 metres.

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, South America, Venezuela

How it is used

Food

Rating: 3

Fruit - raw or cooked. It has a thin, fleshy pulp. A high-calorie beverage is commonly made from the fruit by removing the pulp and then whipping it with water. Called 'Bacaba branca', it is highly esteemed locally. It can also be fermented into a vinegar. The pulp of the fruit contains a clear, yellow, sweet-flavoured oil. It can be used as a perfect substitute for olive oil. Used in cooking. Leaves - cooked. The apical bud, often known as a 'palm heart', is eaten as a vegetable. Eating this bud leads to the death of the tree because it is unable to make side shoots.

Apical bud: Typically, the end of a shoot contains an apical bud, which is the location where shoot growth occurs.

Oil: Oil

Medicine

Rating: 2

The oil from the fruit pulp is emollient.

Other

Rating: 2

The leaves are used for thatching and weaving.

Oil: Vegetable oils have many uses, as lubricants, lighting, soap and paint making, waterproofing etc. This does not include the edible oils unless they are also mentioned as having other uses.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Staple Crop: Sugar: Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Staple Crop: Sugar: Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

A plant of the tropics, it can also be grown in the warm sub-tropics. Grows best in a sunny, moist, but well drained position.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Pataua, Bacaba, White bacaba, Bacaba palm

Synonyms

Oenocarpus discolor Barb.Rodr. Oenocarpus tarampabo Mart.