Fauna
Plant

Jelly Palm

Butia capitata

Also known as Pindo Palm, Brazilian Jelly Palm, Cocos Palm

Jelly palms are slow-growing, cold-hardy feather palms distinctive for their strongly arched, blue-green fronds and stout trunk covered in persistent old leaf bases. Native to the interior savannas and open woodlands of central Brazil, they produce massive dense clusters of bright orange-yellow fruits that attract birds and foraging mammals. Their compact canopy and tolerance for light frosts have made them popular landscape trees in warm-temperate regions worldwide.

Feather PalmCold HardyDrought Tolerant
Jelly Palm reference1 / 2
(c) B. Phalan, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySunlight, Water, Soil Nutrients
Predators
  • Toucans
  • Peccaries
  • Tapirs
ThreatsHabitat loss from agricultural expansion and fire regime changes
HabitatsSavannas, open woodlands, coastal plains, cultivated gardens
Life span50–80 years
Classification
  1. OrderArecales
  2. FamilyArecaceae
  3. GenusButia
  4. SpeciesButia capitata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild palm fruits have toxic look-alikes; never ingest wild plants based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Frond Inspection: Look for strongly recurved, blue-green fronds to distinguish this species from straighter palms.
  • Landscape Care: Provide full sun and well-drained sandy soil for optimal frond development and vigor.
  • Wildlife Viewing: Watch ripe summer fruit clusters for visiting birds and small mammals.
Related species
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