Buri
Allagoptera leucocalyx

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A small clumping palm. The trunk is underground. The leaves are in a small crown. They are greyish-green. The fronds are 1.5 m long. They have leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are pointed and leathery. They are in groups of 2 or 3 along the stalk. The flowers are in a spiral. The fruit are oval and hairy.

There are 4 Allagoptera species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It survives in places that are often burnt. In Bolivia it grows up to 500 m altitude. In Argentina it grows between 100-1,100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, South America

How it is used for food

The fat is extracted from the seeds by repeated boiling and skimming. The flesh of the fruit is eaten fresh.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, palm heart

How it is grown

There are between 40-100 seeds in each fruit.

Its other names

Local names

Buri, Coco da chapada, Masuncotos, Motacuchi, Yatay pony

Synonyms

Allagoptera anisitsii (Barb. Rodr.) H. E. Moore; Allagoptera campestris var. orbignyi (Drude) Kuntze; Allagoptera hassleriana (Barb. Rodr.) H. E. Moore; Diplothemium anisitsii Barb. Rodr.; Diplothemium campestre var. orbignyi Drude; Diplothemium hasslerianum Barb. Rodr.; Diplothemium jangadense S. Moore; Diplathemium leucocalyx Drude;