| Field notes | (J. bataua subsp. bataua). Siona: "Cosá". Spanish: "Unguragua", "Chapil" and Milpesos (Colombia). A relatively common, solitary tree on terra firme. The base growing in 140 cm wide and 30 cm high mound of adventitious innumerable roots, each of these 0.5 cm in diam. The trunk 14 m high, 23 cm in diam at the base and 18 cm in diam apically, smooth, brown, the basal internodes 22 cm long, apical internodes 5 cm long, nodes about 4 cm wide. The crown of about 8 leaves, maintained in a very upright position. The sheath and gradually changing into the petiole, sheath and petiole measuring 230 cm together, petiole 7 cm wide just below the blade, channeled above; blade 760 x 250 cm with 107 pinnae on each side, rachis of midsection of blade, rachis of apical section of blade. Inflorescences 2, one old and rotting inserted at the 7th node below the crown and one fresh at the 1st node; each inflorescence with a basal grasping part 20 cm wide and 10 cm long, then a cylindric peduncle 12 cm wide and 5 cm long, then with the rachis which is 10 cm in diam at the base and 30 cm long maintained in an upwards pointing position, gradually tapering upwards, from the sides and the lower side of the rachis originates 220 up to 130 cm long branches of a light yellow color on which the flowers are inserted. The young inflorescence is enclosed in a 140 cm long brown smooth ?oat shaped spathe, the 30 apical cm constitutes a point. Uses: The fruits of this palm is used for producing an oil which is extracted from the mesocarp. After collecting the fruits they are placed in warm water (45°C). This will loosen the "meat" (exo + mesocarp) and the seeds (endocarp + endosperm) will sink to the bottom. The "meat" is then taken and placed in a different pot with water and boiled. The oil will extract and float on the top where it can be removed with a spoon. The procedure is very slow and labortous. One tree with 2-4 racemes? may produce 0.5-1 liter oil and the work may take a day ore more. The oil is used for cooking and to reritalize hairgrowth. Information: Srs. Victoriano and Julio Criollo, sionachief and his son. |
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