2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Avara (lat. Astrocaryum vulgare) - a fruit crop belonging to the Palm family.
Description
Avara is a tree-like plant, the height of which often reaches ten to fifteen meters. The Avar's trunks are densely covered with thorns - their length can even be twenty centimeters! However, the leaves of the Avara are also densely covered with sharp thorns. At the same time, all thorns and thorns (both on trunks and on leaves) are intended for catching leaves falling from other trees - when decomposing, the caught leaves provide additional food for the Avar. And near the bases of the leaf petioles moisture persists for a very long time, attracting a truly incredible number of scorpions.
However, the interesting features of the Avars do not end there either - the flowers of this plant grow directly from the trunks near the bases of the branches! And after a while, in the place of these flowers, the formation of fruits begins - by the time of full ripening, these fruits hang from the trees in impressive bunches, each of which has a hundred, or even two hundred fruits. Avara is also one of the few crops capable of not only growing, but also bearing fruit at a very respectable altitude - up to four thousand meters above sea level.
Oval or round avara fruits are colored orange or reddish-brown, and their length ranges from three to six centimeters. The pulp of the fruit is very fragrant and incredibly juicy, and its taste is somewhat reminiscent of apricots. Inside each fruit, you can find a huge bone, often occupying up to eighty percent of the total volume of the fruit. As for the surrounding pulp, its thickness is approximately 5 mm.
Where grows
The birthplace of the Avars is the northwestern part of the vast South American continent. Subsequently, as the Indians settled, this culture spread in Suriname, as well as in Guiana and Brazil. And at the moment it is actively grown in almost all South American states.
Application
Numerous South American tribes have long appreciated the Avara for its excellent healing and nutritional properties. It is a popular oilseed crop, as the pulp of its fruit contains up to 35% oil, and it is from it that the well-known palm oil is made. However, on an industrial scale, oil is not obtained from the pulp of the avara, but from its seeds.
The seed oil of this plant is called "chuchu" and is highly valued in folk medicine as a highly effective anti-inflammatory agent for toothache, boils and rheumatism. However, these properties make it possible to use avara oil in dietetics, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetology.
Avara berries boast a very impressive content of carotene and vitamin A, so they will serve well for various diseases of the hair or skin, as well as for low vision.
The pulp of this unusual fruit is a fairly common component in the diet of many South American peoples. For example, the tribes of the Amazon with great pleasure cook steamed Avara - for them it acts as a favorite side dish for a great variety of dishes, and among the inhabitants of Guiana, Avara is an integral attribute of the Easter table, on which pasta made of juicy orange fruits flaunts without fail (in this paste is stewed with a mixture consisting of several dozen other ingredients).
In addition to its magnificent fruits, avara also boasts very durable hard black wood, which has found its application not only in construction, but also in space technology and the aviation industry. And the Indians weave wonderful baskets from the fibers of young leaves, and also make fishing nets and ropes from them.
Contraindications
When using avara, one should focus only on individual intolerance to the product. But palm oil, produced from avara seeds, contains a very high percentage of hydrogenated fats, which to a large extent contribute to an increase in cholesterol levels and, accordingly, an increase in the risk of atherosclerosis. So it's better to refrain from using it!
