Which Amazonian palm is the main source of the fruit called açaí?

The açaí palm is the main source of the fruit called açaí.

The açaí palm, Euterpe oleracea, is native to floodplains and wetlands of the eastern Amazon, especially in Brazil. It commonly grows in clumps with several slender stems and produces branching clusters of small dark-purple fruits. The edible pulp surrounds a large seed, so the fruit contains relatively little flesh.

Açaí has long been an important food in Amazonian communities. Traditionally, the fruit is softened in water and processed into a thick pulp served with fish, cassava or other foods. From the late twentieth century onward, frozen pulp and sweetened açaí products became popular internationally.

Açaí palm is sometimes confused with the juçara palm, Euterpe edulis, which is native farther south and is also harvested for palm hearts. Large-scale açaí demand can support local economies, but harvesting, transport and processing still depend heavily on floodplain ecosystems and seasonal labour.