Palms   Butia witeckii

Common Names: Buti Palm Distribution & Habitat: The palm occurs naturally in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul. This palm is very much threatened by the expansion of agricultural areas in which involves the removal of many mature plants. Livestock inpacts on the regeneration of the species. Description: Palm with 3.0 to 6.5 meters tall, stem alone. It has bright green leaves in number of 14-25, with rachis often twisted due to the wind. The fruits are large with 3.6 to 5.6 cm long by 3.0 to 4.1 cm wide and 23.61 to 43.05 grams in weight, yellow or greenish-yellow when ripe, sweet, but is quite fibrous. The endocarp possessing three longitudinal corners and almost always having a pyramidal shape near the germination pore, its size ranges from 2.7 to 3.5 cm long by 1.6 to 2.3 cm wide, with 3.43 to 10.11 grams. The fruits and the endocarp is the largest among Butias and can be compared to the species Parajubaea torally . The seeds of this species are not attacked by insects, which often attack other Butia species. Cultivation: Mature fruits in March April. Seeds germinate after one year. Slow grower.

Figure 1. B. witeckii

Figure 2. B. witeckii in habitat.

Figure 3. B. witeckii infructescence.

Figure 4. B. witeckii

Figure 5. B. witeckii seed comparison.

Contributed by:

Kelen P. Soares, Quevedos/Jlio de Castilhos, Rio Grande do Sul state. Brazil. (Text and Figures 1,2,3,4&5)

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