Euterpe
Euterpe oleracea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Arecaceae
Subfamily: Arecoideae
Tribe: Euterpeae
Genus: Euterpe
Mart.
Type species
Euterpe oleracea
Synonyms[1]
  • Catis O.F.Cook
  • Plectis O.F.Cook
  • Rooseveltia O.F.Cook

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.[1][2] These palms grow mainly in swamps and floodplains.

The genus is named after the muse Euterpe of Greek mythology. Euterpe are tall, slender palms growing to 15–30 metres (49–98 ft), with pinnate leaves up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) long, and a stem only about 100 millimetres (3.9 in) in diameter. Many of the palms that were once in the genus Euterpe have been reclassified into the genus Prestoea.[3]

The fruit is small, but is produced in great quantity upon branched spadices, which are thrown out horizontally beneath the crown of leaves. It consists of a hard seed, with a very thin covering of a firm pulp or flesh.[4]

The name açaí palm usually refers to Euterpe oleracea,[5][6] but various other species of Euterpe are cultivated commercially under that name.

Uses

A beverage called açaí, much used at Pará and other places on the Amazon River, is prepared from the fruit of certain species. Warm water is poured upon the fruit, and by rubbing and kneading, a liquid is procured, consisting simply of the pulp of the fruit and water. It is a thick, creamy liquid, of a purplish color, and a flavor like that of a freshly gathered nut. It is commonly used with bread made from manioc, and either with or without sugar.[4]

The stem of the açaí palm is sometimes used for poles and rafters, and its terminal bud as a cabbage or as a salad with, oil and vinegar.[4]

Species

Accepted species:[1]

ImageScientific nameDistribution
Euterpe broadwayi Becc. ex BroadwayWindward Islands, Trinidad & Tobago
Euterpe catinga WallaceGuyana, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil
Euterpe edulis MartBrazil, Paraguay, Misiones Province of Argentina
Euterpe longibracteata Barb.Rodr.Guyana, Venezuela, Brazil
Euterpe luminosa A.J.Hend., Galeano & MezaPasco Province of Peru
Euterpe oleracea Mart.Trinidad & Tobago, the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador
Euterpe precatoria Mart.widespread across much of Central America, South America, and Trinidad

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ↑ Govaerts, R. & Dransfield, J. (2005). World Checklist of Palms: 1-223. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  3. ↑ Riffle, 2003.
  4. 1 2 3 Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Assai" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  5. ↑ Del Pozo-insfran, D.; Percival, S. S.; Talcott, S. T. (2006). "Açai (Euterpe oleraceaMart.) Polyphenolics in Their Glycoside and Aglycone Forms Induce Apoptosis of HL-60 Leukemia Cells". Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 54 (4): 1222–1229. doi:10.1021/jf052132n. PMID 16478240.
  6. ↑ Pachecopalencia, L.; Hawken, P.; Talcott, S. (2007). "Phytochemical, antioxidant and pigment stability of açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) as affected by clarification, ascorbic acid fortification and storage". Food Research International. 40 (5): 620–628. doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2006.11.006.


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