The plant prefers tropical rainforest climates and can be found in upland sites. It thrives in South America and is well-suited to high altitude environments.
Babacu
Orbignya speciosa, also known as babacu or barbassu palm, is a staple palm tree found in the tropical rainforests of South America. It produces edible oil, similar to coconut oil, which is used in various products such as margarine, soap, and detergents. The tree also yields nuts with thick shells that can be used as fuel, and its leaves are used for thatching. It is a managed species that grows easily from fresh seeds and can reach a height of 20 meters.
Orbignya speciosa
Brazil
Other Information: - Orbignya speciosa, commonly known as babacu or barbassu palm, is a staple palm tree found in tropical rainforests and upland sites in South America. - The tree produces edible oil, approximately 40 kg per tree per year, which can be used for various purposes such as making margarine, shortening, toilet soap, fatty acids, and detergents. - The oil is extracted using conventional methods, and the remaining seedcake is used for animal feed due to its high protein content (75%). - The kernels of the babacu palm contain approximately 72% oil and have a similar appearance and smell to coconut meat. - A single babacu palm tree can produce around 1500 nuts per hectare or 1 tonne of nuts, with each tree yielding approximately 90 kg of kernels. - The leaves of the babacu palm are utilized for thatching purposes. - The thick shells of the babacu nuts make them an excellent source of fuel. - Babacu palms can be cultivated and managed in stands, and they are easily grown from fresh seeds. - They can reach a height of up to 20 m. - The oil produced from babacu palms is exported. - Babacu palms are solitary feather palms and are currently in an unimproved state.
The plant prefers tropical rainforest and upland sites.
S. America: tropical rainforest, upland sites. Staple palm; edible oil (40 kg/tree/yr), which can be used for the same purposes as coconut oil eg. margarine, shortening, toilet soap, fatty acids, detergents. The oil is obtained by conventional methods of oilseed extraction, and the remain-ing seedcake used for animal feed (75% protein); kernels contain 72% oil content, and smell and look like coconut meat. They may produce 1500 nuts/ha, or 1 tonne nuts /tree (90 kg of kernels); leaves for thatch; nuts have thick shells which are excellent fuel. Cultivated and managed stands; grows easily from fresh seed; grows to 20 m; oil exported; solitary feather palm. Unimproved.