Bactris gasipaes
Kunth
| Synonymy: Guilielma gasipaes | Distribution: Amazonian Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Central America |
| Common names: Peach palm, pejibaye, chonta, pupunha | Conservation status: Unknown in wild; abundant in cultivation |
The peach palm is called that because of its peach-like fruit, which are eaten after
cooking. The palm is native to Central and South America and the fruit are often sold at
fruit markets. The largest of the genus, B. gasipaes is a clumping palm and is
armed by concentric rings of long thin spines on its trunk and randomly spaced spines
along the rachis of the leaves.
Top and bottom photos copyright © 1997-98, Jody Haynes; taken at Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, FL. Middle photo copyright © 1996, T. B. Croat; courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden.
| PACSOF Home Page | |||
| Virtual
Palm Encyclopedia Site Map Powered by FreeFind. |
|||
This site is copyrighted © 1998, 1999, 2000, Palm & Cycad Societies of
Florida (PACSOF)
For questions or comments, e-mail the webmaster.
Internet hosting provided by Zone 10,
Inc.