Bactris macroacantha

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A small palm. It can be in clumps. It grows 1-4 m tall and the trunk is 2-4 cm across. It can be spiny at the internodes. There are 2-6 leaves. The leaf sheath is 25-47 cm long. The leaves are 1-1.8 m long. There are 13-30 leaflets on each side. The flowering shoots are between the leaves. The fruit are 2.5-3.2 cm long by 2-2.3 cm wide. The fruit are round and yellow.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland forests between 120-370 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, palm heart

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chonta brava, Chontilla de coco, Kamancha, Maraja, Shipu

Synonyms

Bactris acanthospatha Trail ex Drude; Bactris confluens var. acanthospatha Trail; Bactris platyacantha Burret;