Bactris gasipaes

[bubba]

This Palm is unknown in the wild but it is believed to be from Central America.This one at Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens looks like it may have laid down after Wilma but it continues to grow and fruit:

A little closer up to see the spines:

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Bubba, it's amazing to see how palms keep growing even when laying down.

B. gasipaes is one of the most popular palms in Costa Rica. There's also a spineless form available.

Here are a few photos of some local Peach Palms

[amazondk]

Bubba,

This palm as you note is a domesticated tree not found in the wild. It is very common around here and the fruits are a main item in regional Amazonas breakfasts. I have a little grove planted on my land in Paricatuba. I plan on adding a few more until I have around a dozen of them. Most of the ones I have are the spineless variety. There are also seedless varieties available here.

These are a few of my little ones in the pupunha (B. gasepaes) grove. I have nine planted there now.

dk

[Ken Johnson]

The fruit is delicious. Murray Corman can get it and has had it a several meetings in the past. The hearts are great too. It is cold sensitive and the trunks are soft. they can break easily in a strong wind. There is a spineless variety. It is a great example of a palm that was used for agriculture as far as 5 thousand years ago!

[bubba]

It is stated that for many Central and South American countries, this palm is grown as a staple for it's fruit. I have never tasted it but understand it is good.

[realarch]

Bubba, saw a lot of these palms in Ecuador along the Napo river. It seemed like every little homestead had a few of them in the yard. I've still not tasted the fruit, maybe Don will make me a cocktail once we get to Brazil. Here are a couple of photos from the canoe.

Tim

[Jose Maria]

Here some more info on the "pejibaye "palm.

Costa Rica is one of the countries where per capita more pejibayes are eaten in Latin America. Also 100%

of the "palmito "or heart of palm produced here is "pejibaye ". Its a palm that clumps, and set out shoots that can be continuously harvested.

Some pejibayes ready for cooking on my kitchen table.See the seed I cut out for you to see.

A roadside vendor, at the border between Costa Rica and Panama with pejibayes hanging justa as if on the trees.Price: 1$ a pound.

[SubTropicRay]

The older specimen in my neighborhood looks better than most D. lutescens in the area.