Family: Arecaceae
Jubaea chilensis (Chilean wine palm, Chile cocopalm) is a palm endemic to Chile. The leaves of this palm can be used for thatching, baskets, and making brushes. Paper and mattress stuffing can be made from the fibers. This plant also has a valuable edible sap, however, the plant is endangered and the tree has to be felled to collect the sap, which is prohibited. This plant has not been documented as naturalized in any Hawaiian Islands to date.
High Risk Traits:
- Broad elevation and temperature range, but primarily a palm of temperate and Mediterranean climates
- Tolerates many soil types
- Formed dense stands within native range (but exploitation has reduced current numbers)
- Reproduces by seeds
- Seeds dispersed by gravity, people and possibly frugivorous animals (although direct evidence is lacking)
- Potentially prolific seed production (up to 10,000 per tree)
- Adult trees are resistant to fire (but seedlings are killed)
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Seedlings palatable to browsing animals
- Non-toxic
- Requires full sun, or high light levels
- Slow growth rate and long time to reproductive maturity (40-60 years)
- Not reported to spread vegetatively
- Relatively large fruit and seeds, and long time to maturity, make accidental dispersal highly unlikely