Marajau
Bactris major var. infesta

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm with a cluster of trunks. They can be 8 m tall but only 5 cm thick. The young palms are spiny. Older trunks are smooth. They have prominent white rings. The fronds are dull green and divided along the stalk. They are 1-2 m long. The leaflets occur in groups of 2-7. They are distributed in 3 different planes. They are 30-40 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. The fruit occur in clusters. They are egg-shaped and purple. The flesh is juicy and edible. There are 4 slightly different varieties.

There are 239 Bactris species. There are 75 species in tropical America. Most Bactris have fruit that are edible but many are not attractive.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. In Bolivia it grows up to 700 m altitude. It will grow on many well drained soils. It can grow in light shade but does better in full sun. It cannot tolerate frost.

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guianas, Honduras, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, South America, Suriname, Venezuela, West Indies

How it is used for food

The flesh of the fruit is edible and can also be made into wine.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed need to be sown while fresh. Seed germinate readily. Young plants need shade but mature plants can grow in full sun.

Its other names

Local names

Beach palm, Black Roseau, Cana brava, Cocorotes, Coyul, Cubarro, Hones, Huiscoyol, Ichicaqui, Jakuate, Pokenoboy, Prickly palm

Synonyms

Bactris chapadensis Barb. Rodr.; Bactris curuena (Trail) Trail ex Drude; Bactris exaltata Barb. Rodr.; Bactris gaviona (Trail) Trail ex Drude; Bactris infesta Mart.; Bactris major var. mattogrossensis Kuntze; Bactris mattogrossensis Barb. Rodr.; Bactris nemorosa Barb. Rodr.; Bactris pyrenoglyphoides A.D. Hawkes; Bactris socialis subsp. curuena Trail; Bactris socialis subsp. gaviona Trail; Pyrenoglyphis chapadensis (Barb. Rodr.)Burret; Pyrenoglyphis curuena (Trail)Burret; Pyrenoglyphis exaltata (Barb. Rodr.)Burret; Pyrenoglyphis gaviona (Trail)Burret; Pyrenoglyphis hoppei Burret; Pyrenoglyphis infesta (Mart.)Burret; Pyrenoglyphis mattogrossensis (Barb. Rodr.)Burret; Pyrenoglyphis nemorosa (Barb. Rodr.) Burret;