Medicinal · Palm
Pejiballe
Bactris gasipaes Kunth
FamilyArecaceae
EspañolPejibaye
AlsoPeach palm, Pejibaye, Peach Palm
A tall, clumping palm whose slender trunks are armed with rings of stiff black spines, though spineless forms exist. Large hanging clusters carry 50 to 300 yellow to scarlet fruits that must be boiled before eating; they are a staple food in Costa Rica, where the palm is also grown for heart of palm. Costa Rica is the world's leading exporter of heart of palm.
Sourced · see Record tab Vulnerable on the Colombian Red List 2021 (as reported by Kew); no global IUCN assessment found · IUCN
Worth knowingA single fruit cluster can hold up to 300 fruits and weigh more than 11 kg, and Costa Rica is the world's leading exporter of heart of palm.
4on the estate
2carrying a tag
2sponsored
| Tag | Garden area | Zone | Planted | Status | Sponsored | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 217 | Jungle Boardwalk | B | 17 June 2016 | Dead | — | |
| 218 | Jungle Boardwalk | B | 17 June 2016 | Dead | — | |
| — | Jungle Boardwalk | B | — | Planted | James S., USA | |
| — | Jungle Boardwalk | B | — | Planted | Kristin F., USA |
2 of these have no tag yet; they will be numbered when the garden team re-tags the estate.