Yagua palm

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• kuakish
• American oil palm
• Yagua Palm

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Scheelea kewensis
• Cocos butyracea
• Scheelea bassleriana
• Cocos regia
• Attalea blepharopus
• Scheelea blepharopus
• Scheelea brachyclada
• Attalea humboldtiana
• Scheelea butyracea
• Attalea macrocarpa
• Scheelea costaricensis
• Attalea macrolepis
• Scheelea curvifrons
• Attalea maracaibensis
• Scheelea dryanderae
• Attalea magdalenae
• Scheelea excelsa
• Attalea rostrata
• Attalea osmantha
• Scheelea fairchildensis
• Attalea wallisii
• Scheelea humboldtiana
• Attalea bassleriana
• Scheelea leandroana
• Attalea fairchildensis
• Scheelea liebmannii
• Attalea leandroana
• Scheelea lundellii
• Attalea liebmannii
• Scheelea macrocarpa
• Attalea lundellii
• Scheelea macrolepis
• Attalea magdalenica
• Scheelea magdalenica
• Attalea kewensis
• Scheelea maracaibensis
• Attalea peruviana
• Attalea salazarii
• Scheelea osmantha
• Attalea wesselsboeri
• Scheelea preussii
• Scheelea regia
• Scheelea rostrata
• Scheelea salazarii
• Scheelea stenorhyncha
• Scheelea tessmannii
• Scheelea passargei
• Scheelea urbaniana
• Scheelea wallisii
• Scheelea wesselsboeri
• Scheelea zonensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Arecales, it is further classified under the family Arecaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Attalea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of habitats across several key regions of North and Central America. Within Mexico, its presence is noted along the Gulf coast and throughout the Southeast. It can also be found extending into the Southwest portion of the country. Moving southward, the species is distributed throughout Central America, specifically in Guatemala. Finally, its geographical range reaches as far south as Costa Rica.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Attalea butyracea is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from natural forest ecosystems to human-altered landscapes. It thrives within habitats such as anthropized areas (Área Antrópica), varzea forests (Floresta de Várzea), and ombrophilous forests, which include tropical rain forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial). This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a vertical range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to an elevation of 1000 m AMSL. Regarding its biological survival strategies, the plant does not possess specialized chemical or structural defense mechanisms.

Defense :

no

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta de Várzea, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Attalea butyracea is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many years. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures, a life form trait reflected in both its primary growth habit and its classification as a phanerophyte. Furthermore, the plant exhibits an evergreen deciduousness pattern, ensuring that its foliage remains functional throughout the year without a seasonal shedding phase.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Attalea butyracea is characterized by its substantial growth form as a woody tree, specifically classified within the palm family. It is a self-supporting, terrestrial plant that exhibits an erect shoot orientation and functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte. The plant reaches a significant stature, with a mean height of approximately 15 m and a maximum potential height of 20 m. Its structural development is robust, featuring a maximum diameter at breast height (DBH) of 75 cm and a maximum shoot length of 2500 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

DBH max:

75 cm

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Shoot length max:

2500 cm

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Attalea butyracea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency within its native environment. The plant exhibits significant structural dimensions, with leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 1334 cm, facilitating a large surface area for light interception. In terms of physical defenses and surface anatomy, the foliage is characterized by a lack of leaf spines, indicating a different morphological strategy for herbivory deterrence compared to other palm species. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil through its root system to support its physiological development and growth.

Leaf length max:

1334 cm

Leaf spines :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Attalea butyracea is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, specifically involving insects and bees. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy, brown-colored fruits that vary in size, with a mean length of 8.25 cm (ranging from 4.5 cm to a maximum of 12 cm) and a mean width of 3.75 cm (ranging from 3 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm). These fruits facilitate zoochorous dispersal, relying on animals to spread their seeds. The seeds themselves are substantial, characterized by a consistent volume of 1500 mm³ and a length that ranges from a minimum of 15 mm to a maximum of 30 mm.

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit colour :

brown

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit length max:

12 cm

Fruit length mean:

8.25 cm

Fruit length min:

4.5 cm

Fruit width max:

4.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

3.75 cm

Fruit width min:

3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

30 mm

Seed length min:

15 mm

Seed volume max:

1500 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Attalea butyracea has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Chemicals

Attalea butyracea has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include P 2.

P 2

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Conditions

Attalea butyracea has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Giardia lamblia, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, giardiasis.

Giardia lamblia

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Diarrhea

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Gastrointestinal disorders

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Giardiasis

1. Frontiers in microbiology

Preparations

Attalea butyracea has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include fruit extract.

Fruit extract

1. Frontiers in microbiology