Vegetable Ivory, Tagua, Nut Palm, Ivory nut palm
Phytelephas macrocarpa

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

Phytelephas macrocarpa or commonly known as Ivory Nut Palm is a tropical, dioecious, solitary palm with a short trunk of about 3 m high, large crown comprised of 12-20 leaves, large white flowers, and composite fruits. Edible parts are the nuts, leaves, palm hearts, and fruits. The jelly-like immature endosperm is eaten or consumed as a drink. The hard seed is used as a substitute for ivory. It is used as buttons and in craft making. The leaves are used as a thatching material. Plants are grown from seeds but germination is slow and can take up to 12 months. Fruiting commence at six years after planting.

Phytelephas macrocarpa is an evergreen Tree growing to 3.5 m (11ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant is not wind tolerant.

Height (m): 3.5

Where it is found

Rainforest. Lowland rainforests on alluvial soil.

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Bolivia, Plurinational State of; Peru; Brazil, Amazon, Asia, Australia, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Panama, South America,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

The apical bud is cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Eating this bud will lead to the death of the tree since it is unable to form side branches. The seed tissue of the immature fruit is liquid - it is used as a refreshing drink. A sweet flavour. Young fruits. The fruit has been used as a coffee substitute.

Apical bud: Typically, the end of a shoot contains an apical bud, which is the location where shoot growth occurs.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Coffee: the various substitutes that can be used instead of coffee.

Drink: not including plant saps, tea or coffee substitutes.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 4

Other Uses: The seed is about the size of a hen's egg. As it matures it becomes immensely hard and closely resembles ivory. It is used for making buttons, chess pieces and ornamental articles of various kinds. The leaves are sometimes employed in the manufacture of articles of domestic economy. (Probably woven into mats etc.) The leaves are used for making baskets. The leaves are used as a thatch material for native huts. A fibre obtained from the plant is used for brooms, torches, fire starters or blowgun bore-cleaners.

Basketry: Plant used in making baskets and other items such as chairs. Includes plants that are only used as an ornamental addition.

Beads: Used as necklaces etc.

Broom: Used for sweeping the floor etc.

Buttons: Plants that can be used as buttons. Not including making buttons from wood.

Lighting: Plants that can be used as torches etc. See also Oil and Wax.

Thatching: Used for making thatched roofs.

Tinder: Used for starting fires. See also Kindling.

Industrial Crop: Vegetable ivory: Large hard seeds to substitute ivory.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Industrial Crop: Vegetable ivory: Large hard seeds to substitute ivory.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

A plant from the warm tropics, though it can tolerate occasional short-lived temperatures down to around freezing. Prefers a moist soil and a warm, sheltered position. A slow-growing plant, it can take from 7 - 25 years from a young seedling before it starts to produce fruit. The flowers are heavily scented. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Propagating it: Seed - it can take 3 - 4 years to germinate.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

ivory palm, ivory-nut palm, tagua palm, ivoire végétal - French, Elfenbeinpalme - German, Steinnußpalme - German, homero - Spanish, marfil vegetal - Spanish, palma de marfil - Spanish, yarina - Spanish (Peru), elfenbenspalm - Swedish, Tagua palm, Negro’s Head, Yarina, Anon de palma, Palmera marfil,

Synonyms

Elephantusia macrocarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Willd. Elephantusia microcarpa (Ruiz & Pav.) Willd. Phytelepha