|
Attalea funifera
Piassaba Palm
A stunning, large palm from Brazil's east coast, where it grows in forest or coastal scrub. Its stout trunk can grow
to 15 m (50 ft.) tall and carries a shuttlecock crown
of large, bushy leaves. Apart from being an impressive ornamental for the tropics and warm subtropics, the Piassaba
palm is extremely useful. The long fibers harvested from the leafbase are locally popular for brushes, brooms and
for thatching huts, and were exported to Europe in the past. The large and very hard endocarp around the seed can
be used for carving and wood turning, and the oil-rich seed itself is edible and very tasty.
 
|
