ABSTRACT
This chapter provides information, such as uses, folk medicine, chemistry, germplasm, distribution, ecology, cultivation, harvesting, yields, energy, and biotic factors of Babassu. Babassu kernels taste, smell, and look like coconut meat, but contain more oil. The oil can be used for the same purposes as coconut oil, for margarine, shortening, general edibles, toilet soap, fatty acids, and detergents. Babassu oil is rich in "practically all of the elements needed in the manufacture of plastics, detergents, emulsifiers, and many related materials". The protein- and oil-rich seed cakes are suitable for animal feed. The endocarp is a good fuel. The oil is used in medicinal salves. Orbignya Martiana Tree is tall, erect, smooth-stemmed palm. Leaves erect-declined, large, elegant, recurved at the flexuous apex; leaflets long, rigid, proximate, oblique-acuminate, disposed in a vertical plane. The tree is sometimes attacked by beetles. Pachymerus nucleorum often destroy the fallen fruits.
