Jubaea
Encyclopedia
Jubaea chilensis is the sole extant species in the genus Jubaea in the palm family Arecaceae
. It is native to southwestern South America
, where it is endemic to a small area of central Chile
, between 32°S and 35°S in southern Coquimbo
, Valparaíso
, Santiago
, O'Higgins
and northern Maule
regions. It was long assumed that the extinct palm tree of Easter Island
belonged to this genus too, but it is distinct and now placed in its own genus, Paschalococos
.
It is a palm reaching heights of 25 metres (82 ft) with a trunk up to 1.3 metres (4.3 ft) in diameter at the base, often thicker higher up, and with smooth bark. The 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft) leaves
are pinnate. The largest individual specimen of indoor plant in the world is the Jubaea chilensis at Kew Gardens
, England.
of pinnate-leaved palms; this is because it grows up to 1400 metres (4,593.2 ft) above sea level in its natural habitat. In the wild, the tree lives almost exclusively on the steep slopes of ravines.
.
The tree also produces small round fruit
s that are about 2–3 cm (0.78740157480315–1.2 in) in diameter. The fruit has a very hard outer shell and has a whitish meat on the inside. The fresh nuts are normally sold in the areas where the palms grow during the fruiting season.
and expansion of grazing area have reduced the population of the Chilean Wine Palm in recent centuries. Unlike most other palm wine
s, collecting the sap requires cutting down the tree; this harvesting also has reduced the population of Jubaea.
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
. It is native to southwestern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, where it is endemic to a small area of central Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, between 32°S and 35°S in southern Coquimbo
Coquimbo Region
The IV Coquimbo Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is some 400 km north of the capital, Santiago.The capital and largest city is La Serena, other important cities include the seaport Coquimbo and the agricultural centre...
, Valparaíso
Valparaíso Region
The V Valparaíso Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions.Valparaíso Region, 2006 With the country's third highest population of 1,539,852 million in 2002 and third smallest area of , the region is Chile's second most densely populated after the Santiago Metropolitan Region...
, Santiago
Santiago Metropolitan Region
Santiago Metropolitan Region or simply Metropolitan Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is the country's only landlocked administrative region and contains the nation's capital, Santiago...
, O'Higgins
O'Higgins Region
The VI O'Higgins Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. It is subdivided into three provinces. It is named in honour of Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme, one of Chile's founding fathers....
and northern Maule
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
regions. It was long assumed that the extinct palm tree of Easter Island
Easter Island
Easter Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people...
belonged to this genus too, but it is distinct and now placed in its own genus, Paschalococos
Paschalococos
Paschalococos disperta , formerly Jubaea disperta, was the native cocoid palm species of Easter Island...
.
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are pinnate. The largest individual specimen of indoor plant in the world is the Jubaea chilensis at Kew Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to as Kew Gardens, is 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England. "The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew" and the brand name "Kew" are also used as umbrella terms for the institution that runs...
, England.
Ecology
It needs mild winters, but will tolerate frosts down to about -15 °C as well as relatively cool summers, making it one of the hardiestHardy palms
Hardy palms are any of the species of palm that are able to withstand colder temperatures and thrive in places not typically considered in the natural range for palms. Several are native to higher elevations in Asia and can tolerate hard freezes with little or no damage...
of pinnate-leaved palms; this is because it grows up to 1400 metres (4,593.2 ft) above sea level in its natural habitat. In the wild, the tree lives almost exclusively on the steep slopes of ravines.
Economic uses
The common name refers to the past use of the sap from the trunk of this palm to produce a fermented beverage. The sap is also boiled down into a syrup and sold locally as miel de palmaPalm syrup
Miel de palma is an edible sweet syrup produced from the sap of a number of palms. It is produced in the Canary Islands and coastal regions of South America.-Species:...
.
The tree also produces small round fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s that are about 2–3 cm (0.78740157480315–1.2 in) in diameter. The fruit has a very hard outer shell and has a whitish meat on the inside. The fresh nuts are normally sold in the areas where the palms grow during the fruiting season.
Conservation
The species is partially protected within Chile, although pressures of human overpopulationOverpopulation
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth...
and expansion of grazing area have reduced the population of the Chilean Wine Palm in recent centuries. Unlike most other palm wine
Palm wine
Palm wine also called Palm Toddy also called "Kallu" written in Malayalam and கள்ளு in Tamil or simply Toddy is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the palmyra, and coconut palms...
s, collecting the sap requires cutting down the tree; this harvesting also has reduced the population of Jubaea.
External links
- Jubaea chilensis species profile from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Pictures and information from grower
- Floridata: Jubaea chilensis; description and places in Europe where it has been introduced
- Philip W. Rundel (2002) The Chilean Wine Palm
- Palm & Cycad Society of Australia: Jubaea chilensis
- Cultivation in northern Europe