|
| Name |
Buitia
Capitata - Jelly Palm, Pindo Palm |
| Cultivation |
Succeeds
in most fertile moist but well-drained soils in a sheltered sunny position.
Tolerates light shade.
This plant is not very cold-hardy in Britain but it tolerates short-lived
frosts down to about -2°c and can be pot-grown taking the pot outdoors
in the summer and keeping it in a conservatory during the winter. It might
succeed outdoors in a selected site in the very mildest areas of the country.
There are several mature specimens in south-west Cornwall (England) that
were planted in the early 1900's.
Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish
best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially
more cold tolerant than juvenile plants. In areas at the limit of their
cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers
for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them
into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates. Palms can also
be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots
are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced.
It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also
to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the
leaves can also help. A slow-growing plant, it is occasionally cultivated
for its edible fruit and seed. |
| Habitat |
Grassland
plains near the coast.
Woodland, Sunny
Edge, By Walls, By South Wall, By West Wall. |
| Characteristics |
An
evergreen tree growing to 6m by 4m at a slow rate. It is in leaf all
year. The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male
or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant).
The plant prefers
light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained
soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It
can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist
soil. |
| Edible
Uses |
Fruit
- raw. Sweet and aromatic with the flavour of apricots. They can also
be made into jellies, jams, pies, cakes etc. The fruit is very fibrous
but is also very nice. The fruit is about 34 x 25mm.
The seed contains up to 45% of an edible oil, it is used mainly for
margarines.
The pith of the stem can be made into a bread. However, because the
tree cannot make side branches this will effectively kill it. |
| Medicinal
Uses |
None
Known |
| Other
Uses |
None
Known |
| Propagation |
Seed
- best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at not less than
24°c. Stored seed is very slow to germinate. Pre-soaking the seed for
24 hours in warm water prior to sowing may shorten the germination time.
Plants form a long tap-root some time before forming a shoot. Germination
of fresh seed usually takes place in 3 - 4 months at 25°c. Plant out into
individual pots either as soon as root growth is noticed or as soon as
top growth appears. Grow on in a greenhouse for at least the first winter.
See Cultivation notes above regarding planting them outdoors. |
| Cultivars |
There
are a few named forms, selected for their ornamental value. Since we know
of no forms that have been selected for their useful properties, we have
not listed any cultivars here and in general, unless you require the specific
ornamental properties of a cultivar, we recommend you grow the species
rather than any cultivars. |
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