Poucos são os estudos sobre estratégias de alocação da produção de matéria seca em arvores tropicais. Para as palmeiras, entretanto, vários trabalhos foram concluídos. Neste, estudo, os autores mediram a produção de matéria, seca e sua distribuição morfológica numa palmeira de grande valor econômico na Amazônia, o Patauá (Jessenia bataua).Do total da produção de matéria seca acima da superfície do solo, aproximadamente 34% é dedicado às partes reprodutivas, ou seja os frutos e as inflorescências. Esta estratégia é analisada e comparada com a de outras palmeiras neotropicais.

There are few assessments of lifetime dry matter production for tropical trees. However, several studies, have been carried out for palms. This study measures dry matter production for Jessenia bataua,a useful palm common in many areas of the Amazon Valley. Palms In the Ducke Forest Reserve Of INPA were studied. Approximately 34% of total aboveground dry matter production in this palm was, alllocated to reproductive effort, eg., the production of in florescences and fruits. The meaning of this percentage, to discussed, relative to percentages identified in other Neotropical palms.

Two genera, Oenocarpus and Jessenia are recognized in this complex of Neotropical palms. They are well represented in Brasil, Oenocarpus with seven species (O. distinchus, O. discolar, O. tarampabo, O. bacaba, O. macrocalyx, O. mapora and O. minor, and Jessenia with one species, J. bataua). Many of these taza are poorly know and under-represented in herbaria, both in Brazil and elsewhere. A great deal of fieldwork is needed to betther undestand the basic biology and extent of variation in the populations of these palms.