BLOSSOMING TREASURES OF BIODIVERSITY 16. Peach Palm, Bactris gasipaes—a palm with a heart

摘要

Throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, palms play an important role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystems. They are also extraordinarily important economically, furnishing a great range of products. Many species are the source of "palm hearts," a luxury vegetable that is rapidly growing in popularity. Unfortunately, removing the heart of a palm kills the trunk of the tree. Such harvest can be extremely wasteful because the heart is a small part of the plant. Some species are over-harvested and declining. One species may hold the key for the protection of the rest.