Caranday wax palm
Copernicia alba

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It grows 25 m tall. The trunk is cylinder shaped and occasionally divides in two. The bark is grey and smooth. The leaves are at the tip of the trunk. They are 40-70 cm long. The flowering stalks are about 2 m long. The flowers are green and arranged in a spiral pattern. The fruit is a dark berry. It contains a light brown seed. This is oval and 12 mm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on seasonally flooded savannah. In Argentina it grows below 300 m above sea level. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina (country/location of origin), Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Colombia, Indonesia, Paraguay, SE Asia, South America

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten fresh. They are also used for juice. They are also used for alcoholic drinks. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. The tips of young plants are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, growing tip, palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Caranda, Jwitsiuk, Karanda'i, Karanda'y, Mufa, Palem karanda

Synonyms

Copernicia australis Becc.;