ISHS Acta Horticulturae 531: II ISHS Conference on Fruit Production in the Tropics and Subtropics
BIOLOGY AND USE OF VEGETABLE IVORY PALMS (PHYTELEPHAS SPP.) |
| Author: | L. Pülschen |
| Keywords: | ivory-substitute, non-timber forest products, tagua |
| Abstract:
The genus Phytelephas Ruiz et Pav. (Arecaceae) is spread as an understorey tree in lowland forests from Peru to Panama, being mainly utilized in Ecuador. Range of utilization of the palm tree is wide and includes various shoot and root organs; main product are the mature seeds, white hard tagua nuts, which are an internationally traded ivory substitute. Due to presently increasing demand for tagua nuts the short-stemmed dioecious palm tree experiences a revival. As a non-timber forest product the tree is under focus of conservationists, who consider its use as an advantage in order to maintain and protect forests and to simultaneously provide an income to local residents. There are particularities with regard to the trees growth form, which directly relate to nutrient availability and indirectly are an important cause of adult palm mortality. Taguals and their local management regimes vary substantially in productivity and sustainability. | |
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