Tropical Plant "Pataua"
Oenocarpus bataua

Characteristics – Oenocarpus bataua is not a cultivated fruit bearer, but is easily found in the damp, flood plain forests and gallery forests that can be flooded, as well as the dry land forests throughout the Amazon region. A solitary palm, robust, 5-25 m tall. Leaves pinnate, 10-20 concurrently, more than 6 m long, with 70-160 pairs of pinnae evenly distributed and arranged on the same plane. Inflorescences infrafoliar, branched with 120-370 rachises. Fruits have a thin, carnose mesocarp (pulp).

Uses – The fruits are consumed in their natural state, in the form of ‘pataua wine’ witch is made by removing the pulp and whipping it with water. It is a high calorie drink, routinely consumed in the Amazon region, it is similar to ‘assai wine’ and ‘bacaba wine’.

Propagation – Propagated by seeds.