Açaí palm
| Euterpe | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Liliopsida |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Genus: | Euterpe |
| Binomial name | |
| Euterpe oleracea |
|
The Açaí palm (Assai palm) is a type of palm tree. There are seven different types of Açaí palms.[1][2] The tree grows in Central and South America. It has a black-purple fruit about the size of a grape called a euterpe. The seed inside is very big. The fruit grows in bunches of 700 to 900 fruits.
The palms are mainly used for two things: First, salads called palmitos (heart of palm) can be made from the leaves; for this, the tree needs to be cut down. Secondly, the fruits can be made into a fruit juice that is said to be very healthy.
Images[change | change source]
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The fruits on a market, in Belem
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A typical serving of açaí juice
References[change | change source]
- ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ↑ "Euterpe oleracea". "Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations". http://www.fao.org/docrep/v0784e/v0784e0b.htm. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
Other websites[change | change source]
- Pictures of Açaí palms trees and fruit from an article by The Nature Conservancy.
- University of Florida study confirms that açaí berries contain antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells
- Jewelry made from Açaí seeds
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Wikispecies has information on: Euterpe. |
