Wettinia quinaria

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It has a single stem. It grows 8-15 m tall. The stems are 10-20 cm wide. The leaves are 3-6 m long with 35-60 leaflets on each side. There are 5-7 flowers at each node on the stem. The fruit are green. They are 2-3.5 cm long by 1.5-2.5 cm wide. They occur in 4-7 long clusters.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet forest up to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

It is cultivated.

Edible parts

Palm heart, fruit, seed

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ban chi, Bisala, Bunchim Cade, Chinta, Gualte, Gualte bola, Meme, Palmira, Pistula, Yaanchi, Zancona

Synonyms

Wettinella quinaria O. F. Cook & Doyle; Wettinia utilis Little;