Conquilla Nut, Bahia Piassava Palm, Piassaba palm
Attalea funifera

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A large, upright, solitary palm. The trunk is clean and 15 m tall and 30 cm across. In some locations the trunk can be small and underground. There are 5-15 leaves and the leaf stalk is long. The leaves are long and divided into leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are carried erect. The leaflets are arranged irregularly. The fruit are very large. They contain 1-3 seeds. They are 10-15 cm long and 3-9 cm across. They are borne in huge bunches. These hang down among the leaves.

There are between (22) 30-71 Attalea species. Some authorities divide them among Attalea, Orbignya, Scheela and Maximiliana.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in rainforest at low altitudes in the tropics in Brazil. They are often on sand dunes near the sea.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil, French Guiana, South America

How it is used for food

The oil or fat from the nut is used in margarine.

Edible parts

Nuts - oil, fruit

How it is grown

The large seeds are slow and erratic to germinate.

The melting point of the oil is 25-26°C. A kernel weighs 3 g. They contain about 67% oil. About 7.5 kg of seeds can be harvested by hand in one day.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Attalea acaulis Burret; Attalea funifera var. acaulis (Burret)Burret; Lithocarpus cocciformis O. Targ. Tozz.; Sarinia funifera (Mart. ex Spreng.)O.F.Cook;