| Butia | |
|---|---|
| Butia capitata, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, UK | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Arecales |
| Family: | Arecaceae |
| Subfamily: | Arecoideae |
| Tribe: | Cocoeae |
| Genus: | Butia Becc. |
| Species | |
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See text |
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Butia,also known as a Pindo Palm is a genus of palms in the family Arecaceae, native to South America in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. Most species produce edible fruits, that are sometimes used to make alcoholic drinks.
They are 'feather palms', with pinnate leaves 2-4 m long. The species vary from nearly stemless plants rarely exceeding 40 cm tall (e.g. B. campicola) to small trees up to 10 m tall (e.g. B. yatay).
Butia capitata is notable as one of the hardiest feather palms, tolerating temperatures down to about −10 °C; it is widely cultivated in warm temperate regions.