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macauba palm

Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart.

Family: Arecaceae · Genus: Acrocomia

grugru palm

Secondary II Emergent Mulch biomass
mauroguanandi · CC BY · iNaturalist

Native palm of the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, distributed from Bahia to Paraná. Spiny stipe 10–20 m. Orange-yellow fruits with yellow pulp and an inner almond — two distinct oil sources (pulp for food, almond for industry). Yields 50–70 kg/palm/year at peak (8th year after planting). In silvopastoral systems shades livestock and increases biodiversity through flowers and fruit.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary II
Ecological role
Late secondary
Primary stratum
Emergent
Strata
Emergent, High
Biomass class
Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
High
Soil pH range
4.5–7
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
9–12

Morphology

Mature height
10–20 m
Recommended spacing
6–9 m
Root system
Fibrous
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Slow
Lifespan
50–100 years
Time to first harvest
72 months
Productive lifespan
50 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Macauba palm takes the Emergent stratum in the Secondary II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent · ≈20 m High Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Spacing 6×6 m to 8×8 m in monoculture; 9×9 m in syntropic systems. Field planting at 30 cm in June–August. Responsive to phosphate fertilization.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: October, November, December, January

Fruiting months: March, April, May, June, July, August

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of macauba palm?

The first harvest of macauba palm comes around 72 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for macauba palm?

The recommended spacing for macauba palm is 6–9 m.

How tall does macauba palm grow?

At maturity, macauba palm reaches 10–20 m tall.

When does macauba palm fruit?

Fruiting of macauba palm occurs in March, April, May, June, July, August.

When does macauba palm flower?

Flowering of macauba palm occurs in October, November, December, January.

What stage and stratum does macauba palm occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, macauba palm belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the emergent stratum.

Functions

🍎 Fruit Oil seed 🌿 Biomass producer Fodder

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Embrapa — Maciços naturais de macaúba: mapeamento e potencial para biodiesel (description)
  2. Embrapa — Macaubeira: Acrocomia aculeata (height_min_m, time_to_first_harvest_months)
  3. Flora e Funga do Brasil — Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart. (family, genus, scientific_author, biomes, flora_do_brasil)
  4. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Acrocomia aculeata (accepted key 7413879) (gbif_taxon_key, powo_id, tropicos_id, inaturalist_taxon_id)
  5. Useful Tropical Plants — Acrocomia aculeata (root_system, root_depth, cultivation_notes, drought_tolerance)

External references

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