Attalea butyracea
Attalea butyracea, commonly known as the butter palm, is a vital tropical plant native to South American ecosystems. Renowned for its nutrient-dense fruits, it serves both nutritional and medicinal purposes. Traditional practitioners utilize its oils and extracts to treat various ailments, highlighting its significant importance in ethnobotanical studies.
- Scientific name: Attalea butyracea
- Family: Arecaceae
- Native range: Northern America
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Arecales | WCVP |
| Family | Arecaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Attalea | 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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico Gulf | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southwest | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Southeast | WCVP |
| Central America | Costa Rica | WCVP |
| Central America | Guatemala | WCVP |
| Central America | Honduras | WCVP |
| Central America | Nicaragua | WCVP |
| Central America | Panamá | WCVP |
| Caribbean | Trinidad-Tobago | WCVP |
| Northern South America | Venezuela | WCVP |
Chemicals
Attalea butyracea has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include P-2.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| P-2 | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Attalea butyracea has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Giardia lamblia, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, giardiasis.
- Total uses
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Giardia lamblia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diarrhea | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gastrointestinal disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| giardiasis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |