Attalea colenda

Attalea colenda is a tall, evergreen palm with one trunk. It belongs to the palm family, Arecaceae. Its native range spans southwest Colombia and western Ecuador. Local names include palma real and chivila. It grows in wet tropical regions, in rain forest and deciduous forest. It also grows in cleared land and disturbed sites. Some older sources question its placement within the palm family. The name Ynesa colenda appears as a synonym.

Garden references give a height of about 82 feet [25 metres]. The listed spread reaches about 66 feet [20 metres]. Other accounts describe trees reaching 98 feet [30 metres] or more. The stout trunk grows without branches. It measures about 1–1.6 feet [0.3–0.5 metres] across. Many roots grow from its base. A crown of 15–25 large leaves tops the trunk. The long, upright leaves can reach 28 feet [8.5 metres]. These dimensions give the palm a large scale in the landscape.

Each palm bears both male and female flowers. Bees and other insects pollinate them. The palm forms large flower clusters, followed by heavy fruit clusters. Trees can produce one to four fruit clusters each year. Some clusters weigh more than 100 kilograms. The fruits are large, oval, and rich in oil. Their large seeds provide oil for cooking. One seed analysis found an oil content of about 52 percent.

This palm needs sun and moist soil with good drainage. It can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. PFAF lists it for USDA zones 10–12. That source describes overall growth as moderate, but seedling growth as fast. Growers raise it from seed. Germination can take a long time and occur unevenly. Its tropical needs and large crown suit warm sites with ample space.

People gather the seeds from wild palms for oil. Ecuador once exported them to Colombia and the United States. African oil palm has since become the larger commercial crop. Long fibres from the leaf stalk edges also have commercial value. PFAF includes the species among food-forest plants. Both use references report no known hazards. This does not establish safety for pets or every plant part. Neither source gives specific pest or disease problems.