Skip to main content
Log in

Notes on the Biology and Uses of the Motacú Palm(Attalea phalerata, Arecaceae) from Bolivia

Notas sobre la biología y los usos de la palma motacú (Attalea phalerata, Arecaceae) de Bolivia

  • Published:
Economic Botany Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The motacú palm (Attalea phalerata) is widespread in Bolivia and is an economically valuable species as a source of vegetable oil. In Bolivia it is utilized as construction material, food, medicine, cosmetic, and edible oil. Oil extracted from the kernel (60–70% of dry weight) is high in lauric and myristic oils and compares favorably with other tropical oil crops. The palms reach reproductive maturity in 7–10 years and potential oil production from cultivated stands is 1.1-2.4 tons/ha/yr.

Resumen

El motacù, Attalea phalerata que es una especie neotropical, está ampliamente distribuída en Bolivia y tiene un importante potential economico como fuente para aceite vegetal. En Bolivia es aprovechada para fines de construcción, alimenticio, medicinal y cosmético: hojas para techos y ebanistería, troncos para viviendas locales, frutos alimenticios y para la elaboración de aceites. Cerca al 60-70% en peso seco de aceite producido corresponde a la semilla y tiene una producción potencial de 1.1-2.4 toneladas por hectárea por año.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Anderson, A. B., W. L. Overall andA. Henderson. 1988. Pollination ecology of a forest dominant palm(Orbignya phalerata Mart.) in northern Brazil. Biotropica 20:192–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balslev, H. andA. Henderson. 1987. The identity ofYnesa colenda (Palmae). Brittonia 39:1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balslev, H. andM. Moraes. 1989. Sinopsis de las palmeras de Bolivia. AAU Reports 20:1–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bek-Nielsen, D. B. 1984. The growth of the Malaysian palm oil industry in relation to international trade in edible oils and fats. Proceedings from the Second Consultation on the Food Processing Industry with Special Emphasis on Vegetable oils and Fats. UNIDO, Copenhagen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, K. G. andS. H. Ong. 1985. The industrial uses of palm and coconut oils. Oleagineux 40:613–621.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blicher-Mathiesen, U. andH. Balslev. 1990.Attalea colenda (Arecaceae), a potential new lauric oil resource. Economic Botany 44:360–368.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Briicher, H. 1977. Tropischen Nutzpflanzen. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardenas, M. 1989. Manual de plantas economicas de Bolivia. 2nd Edit. Editorial Los Amigos del Libro, La Paz-Cochabamba.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corley, R. H. V., J. J. Hardon andB. J. Wood. 1982. Oil palm research. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeLucca D., M. andJ. Zalles A. 1992. Flora medicinal boliviana. Diccionario enciclopedico. Editorial Los Amigos del Libro, La Paz-Cochabamba.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, A. 1994. Palms of the Amazon. Oxford Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilditch, T. P. andP. N. Williams. 1964. The chemical constitution of natural fats, 4th edition. Chapman & Hall, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irmay, H. de. 1949. La Palmera “cusi” y el aceite de “babassu”. Revista de Agricultura (Cochabamba) 5:29–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lleras, E. andL. Coradin. 1988. Native neotropical oil palms: state of the art and perspectives for Latin America. Advances in Economic Botany 6:201–213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martius, C. F. von. 1842. Palmetum Orbignianum. Descriptio Palmarum in Paraguaria et Bolivia crescentium. Conspectus regni vegetabilisin: A. d'Orbigny, Voyage dans l'Amerique Meridionale 7: 1–140. Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moraes R., M. 1989. Ecologfa y formas de vida de las palmas bolivianas. Ecologfa en Bolivia 13:33–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moraes R., M. 1993. Palmae. Pages 612–628in T. J. Killeen, E. Garcia & S. Beck, eds. Gufa de Arboles de Bolivia. Herbario Nacional de Bolivia-Missouri Botanical Garden. Quipus SRL, La Paz.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moraes R., M. 1996. Usos de palmeras bolivianas. Proceedings Etnobotanica 92. Jardin Botanico de Cordoba, Cordoba.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pefta, R. 1976. La flora crucena. Universidad Gabriel Rene Moreno, Santa Cruz.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mónica, M.R., Borchsenius, F. & Blicher-Mathiesen, U. Notes on the Biology and Uses of the Motacú Palm(Attalea phalerata, Arecaceae) from Bolivia. Econ Bot 50, 423–428 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866525

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02866525

Key Words

Navigation