It thrives in tropical rainforest environments in Central and South America, typically found at altitudes of up to 2000 m. It prefers heavy soil and areas with rainfall of 2500 mm or less. The climate should meet its specific requirements for successful growth.
Peach palm
Bactris gasipae, also known as peach palm or pejibaye, is a multi-stemmed feather palm native to Central and South America. It thrives in tropical rainforests and prefers heavy soil with rainfall of 2500 mm or less. The plant is highly productive, yielding fruits that are rich in protein and carbohydrates. Its edible portions include the boiled and dried fruit, the coconut-like seed kernel, and the heart-of-palm vegetable. Additionally, the trunk can be used for wood, and the thorny stems are effective as a fence barrier.
Bactris gasipae
Country of origin: Central and South America
Other Relevant Information: - Bactris gasipae, also known as Guilielma gasipaes, is commonly referred to as peach palm or pejibaye. - It belongs to the group of plants classified as Other utility. - It is native to Central and South America, specifically inferred tropical rainforests, up to an elevation of 2000 meters. - Peach palm prefers heavy soil and areas with rainfall below 2500 mm. - Although its wild form is unknown, it is widely cultivated. - This palm species is known for its high yield, with an average of 3.4 tonnes of dry fruit per hectare per year. - Each plant can yield up to 12 kg of fruit. - The fruits of the peach palm are high in protein and carbohydrates. - The fruits are typically eaten boiled and dried. - The edible seed kernel has a taste similar to coconut. - The heart of the peach palm is also edible. - The heart-of-palm vegetable crop is often harvested from thinnings, and the plants are multi-stemmed, so the whole plant does not need to be sacrificed. - The trunk of the peach palm is used for wood. - The thorny stems of the plant serve as an effective fence barrier. - The nutritional composition of pejibaye per 100 grams of edible portion includes water, fat, protein, ash, calcium, iron, phosphorous, carotene, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and ascorbic acid. - Peach palm is widely cultivated in tropical America as forage for pigs and poultry. - It can be propagated by seed or suckers. - Peach palm starts bearing fruit at 6-8 years of age and has an economic life of 75 years or more. - Currently, there is a lack of superior cultivars for commercial plantations. - While the fruit is a local product, the hearts of the peach palm are exported. - Peach palm is a multistemmed, usually spiny, suckering feather palm. - It is considered unimproved, indicating a lack of significant breeding or selection efforts to enhance its characteristics.
- Heavy soil preference - Thrives in areas with rainfall of 2500 mm or less
Central and S. America: inferred tropical rain forest, to 2000 m; prefers heavy soil and where rainfall is 2500 mm or less; unknown wild. High yielding palms; fruits high in protein and carbohydrate, (3.4 tonne dry fruit/ha/yr; one plant yields up to 12 kg of fruit; generally eaten boiled and dried; edible seed kernel, tasting somewhat like coconut; edible heart; heart - of -palm vegetable crop often taken from thinnings, multi - stemmed so do not need to sacrifice whole plant; trunk for wood; thorny stems effective fence barrier.
Nutritional composition of pejibaye per 100 grams of edible portion is: Water - 36.4 - 60.9%, Fat - 3.10 - 8.17 g, Protein - 0.340 - 0.633 g, Ash - 0.72 - 1.64 g, Calcium - 8.9 - 40.4 mg, Iron - 0.85 - 2.25 mg, Phosphorous - 33.5 - 55.2 mg, Carotene - 0.290 - 2.760 mg, Thiamin - 0.037 -0.070 mg, Riboflavin - 0.099 - 0.154 mg, Niacin - 0.667 - 1.945 mg, Ascorbic acid - 14.8 - 41.4 mg
Widely cultivated in tropical America as forage for pigs and poultry. Propagation by seed or suckers; begins to bear fruit at 6 - 8 years and has an economic life of 75 years or more; at present there is a lack of superior cultivars for commercial plantations; fruit local product; hearts exported; multistemmed, usually spiny, suckering feather palm. Unimproved.