Search results
Euterpe is a genus of palm trees, containing eight species that are native to Central America and the Yucatan, the West Indies, and South America, from Belize and the Windward Islands southward to Brazil, Peru and Argentina. These palms grow mainly in swamps and floodplains. The genus is named after the muse Euterpe of Greek mythology.
The açaí palm (/ ə ˈ s aɪ. iː /, Portuguese: ⓘ, from Nheengatu asai), [2] Euterpe oleracea, is a species of palm tree cultivated for its fruit (açaí berries, or simply açaí), hearts of palm (a vegetable), leaves, and trunk wood. Global demand for the fruit has expanded rapidly in the 21st century, and the tree is cultivated for that ...
It grows in large stands of high density in low-lying, tidal areas near the sea and in wet places near rivers, seldom occurring inland and then in wet places near streams or rivers. In the eastern Amazon basin it replaces Euterpe precatoria in these habitats.
- Clustering
- Pinnate
- 30m/60ft+
Mar 23, 2023 · The acai palm (Euterpe oleracea) is a species of palm tree native to the Amazon rainforest of South America. It is a tall and slender palm that can grow up to 25 meters in height, with a cluster of leaves at the top and a trunk that is smooth and grey in color.
- Overview
- Physical description
- Fruit and nutrition
- Palm hearts
- Other uses
- Labour issues
acai, (Euterpe oleracea), species of palm (family Arecaceae) cultivated for both its fruit and edible hearts of palm. Native to tropical South and Central America, acai palms are common along the Amazon River estuary and are cultivated on floodplains, especially in the state of Pará in Brazil. The plant has long been valued commercially for its hig...
Acai palms consist of 4–8 slender gray-brown stems, each of which is about 25 metres (82 feet) tall and generally no greater than 20 cm (about 8 inches) in diameter. The stems bear ringlike leaf scars and are topped with a crown of 9–15 compound leaves; the leaves measure about 1.2–4 metres (4–13 feet) long. The small brown-purple flowers are either staminate (male) or pistillate (female) and are borne on large branching inflorescences that hang from the tops of the stems. The flowers are pollinated by small bees and flies and produce round drupes known as acai berries. The fruits are about 1.5 cm (0.6 inch) in diameter and feature a single large seed. They usually ripen from green to a deep purple, though the fruit of some populations remains green at maturity. Each acai stem can produce up to eight bunches of fruit a year, each bunch weighing up to 6 kg (13 pounds).
Britannica Quiz
Acai fruits have a high fat content and thus are highly perishable, usually lasting only about a day after being picked. Local peoples use the pulp of the fresh fruit in a variety of sweets and beverages, including wine, and the juice is commonly mixed with tapioca. For export, the fruit pulp is usually dried and powdered as a dietary supplement, o...
Acai and other members of the genus Euterpe are important commercial sources of palm hearts, also known as hearts of palm, which are eaten as a vegetable. Palm hearts are harvested by removing the growing top of the palm crown; each heart consists of a whitish cylinder of tender immature leaves. Given that acai palms are multistemmed, the harvest c...
In addition to its commercial importance, acai is also used as a medicinal plant by indigenous and local peoples, and the leaves and stems are useful for thatch and building materials.
Acai is difficult to cultivate, and the majority of fruit and palm heart production comes from wild plants in rural, often labyrinthine estuaries. Given that the palms are so tall and slender, the fruit is frequently harvested by children, who can ascend the plants without breaking them. Despite the risk of deadly or life-altering falls and injuries such as knife wounds or bites from venomous snakes or spiders, researchers in Brazil have noted that the use of child labour is widespread among the impoverished families who work the time-sensitive harvest. Although some acai fruit is certified fair trade, critics of the certification process say that it has done little to eradicate child labour from the industry.
Special offer for students! Check out our special academic rate and excel this spring semester!
- Melissa Petruzzello
Mar 30, 2011 · Origin and Habitat: Although thought to originate between northern Argentina and Central America at elevations between sea level and 500 m it is now very common in the Amazon forest in Brazil. It is also widely cultivated in the tidal plains of the Amazon estuary because of its use as a food item.
In its natural habitat, Euterpe oleracea thrives in swamps and floodplains, displaying its best growth in acidic, moist, and well-drained soil. Propagation of the Acai Palm is typically achieved through seeds, which have the capacity to germinate within a few weeks to a couple of months.
