Butia odorata

Scientific name	Butia odorata [1]
Genus	Butia [1]
Family	Arecaceae [1]
Order	Arecales [2]
Common names	Pindo palm; jelly palm; yatay palm; Brazilian butia palm [3]
Habit	Solitary, slow-growing evergreen palm [4]
Native setting	Grassland, dry woodland, savanna, and warm sites of southern Brazil and adjacent Uruguay [5]
Fruit season	Fruit ripens over a period of roughly 3–4 months [2]

Butia odorata, commonly called pindo palm, jelly palm, yatay palm, or Brazilian butia palm, is a solitary South American palm cultivated for its arching blue-green leaves and edible fruit. Its native range is in southern Brazil and adjacent Uruguay, where it occurs in grassland, dry woodland, and savanna settings. ^{[3] [5]}

Description

This is a slow-growing evergreen palm with a stout solitary trunk and long, arching pinnate leaves. Mature plants are commonly described in the range of about 3–6 m (10–20 ft), although size varies with climate, soil, and cultivation. The leaf stems are thorny. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

The foliage is blue-green and the leaflets give the crown a soft, recurved appearance. Cream-colored flowers are produced in the crown, followed by round to oval fruit that may mature yellow, orange, or red. ^{[3] [2]}

Cultivation

Soil and water

In its native southern Brazilian and Uruguayan range, the palm is associated with grassland, dry woodland, and savanna rather than permanently saturated ground. In cultivation, use soil that drains freely and contains useful organic matter; prolonged wet soil is a limitation. ^{[3] [5]}

Established plants tolerate drought. A University of Arizona planting account uses deep monthly watering after establishment; this is a warm-climate observation rather than a universal schedule. ^{[2] [3]}

Sun and humidity

Full sun produces the compact, strongly developed form associated with this palm. Moderate shade is tolerated, while full shade is unsuitable; shaded plants may develop longer fronds and a less compact crown. ^{[3] [5]}

The species is adapted to warm conditions and tolerates heat; moderate salt tolerance is also reported. Prolonged cold is a limitation. ^{[2] [3]}

Seasonal changes

The palm remains evergreen and comes from landscapes that include seasonally dry grassland, woodland, and savanna. Its native wet–dry rhythm is therefore different from that of a palm from a permanently wet forest. ^{[4] [5]}

Fruit ripens over roughly 3–4 months and can fall after full ripeness. ^[2]

Propagation

Seed propagation is the documented method for this species. Useful Tropical Plants describes fresh seed as preferable, with stored seed delaying germination; its account gives a 24-hour warm-water presoak and germination over roughly 3–4 months at 25 °C. It also notes early development of a long taproot. ^{[3] [4]}

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

The flowers include male and female flowers in the same inflorescence, and the plant is described as self-pollinating. A first crop has been recorded at about 8–10 years in cultivation, but bearing age varies with climate, plant size, and care. ^[2]

Fruit is typically about 1 inch across in the cited horticultural description and ripens from yellow-orange toward orange or red. It may remain on the palm until fully ripe and then fall. ^{[2] [3]}

Yield and fruit quality vary among palms. A warm-climate arboretum record gives 50–100 pounds per palm, while a specialist grower observation notes substantial differences in fruit size, color, and flavor among labeled plants. The observation of one plant retaining consistent fruit traits across years is useful for selection but does not establish a uniform trait for the species. ^{[2] [5]}

Fruit and uses

The ripe fruit is edible and has a sweet-tart flavor. It is eaten fresh and used for jelly and fermented products; the flesh is described as fibrous, and fruit quality varies among plants. ^{[3] [2] [5]}

Photos

Butia odorata at the Jardin de la Fontaine in Nîmes.

References

• ↑ [1] GBIF species match: Butia odorata.

• ↑ [2] Butia odorata, University of Arizona Campus Arboretum.

• ↑ [3] Butia odorata, North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

• ↑ [4] Butia odorata, Useful Tropical Plants.

• ↑ [5] Butia odorata, Palmpedia: Palm Grower's Guide.

Image credits

• ButiaFlorida.jpg — CoolGuySlate, own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons file page. Caption: Butia odorata in Florida.

• Butia odorata - Nîmes Jardin de la fontaine.jpg — RuB (Ruddy Bénézet), own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons file page. Caption: Butia odorata at the Jardin de la Fontaine in Nîmes.