Caranday palm, Blue needle palm
Trithrinax campestris

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It grows 6 m tall. The stems are 20-25 cm wide. Old leaf stumps remain on the stems. The leaves are about 1 m long and spread out like a fan. The leaf stalk is stiff and spiny. The flower stalk is at the base of the lower living leaves. There are up to 100 white flowers. Fruit ripen towards the end of summer. They are yellowish brown and 1-2 cm wide.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Slovenia, South America (country/location of origin), Uruguay

How it is used for food

The fruit are sometimes used to produce a fermented drink.

Edible parts

Pith, growing tip, cabbage, palm heart, fruit - drink

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Palma caranday

Synonyms

Chamaethrinax hookeriana H. Wendl. ex R. Pfister [Invalid]; Copernicia campestris Burmeist.;