Chonta palm
Astrocaryum gratum
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A palm. It grows 15 m tall. It has 6-25 leaves. They have 90-105 leaflets on each side. There are black spines on the trunk and leaf midrib. The flowering shoots are 1-1.5 m long. The fruit are oval and orange-yellow. These have small spines over them. The pulp of the fruit is succulent and covers on seed.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in areas that are occasionally flooded as well as in lower mountain forests. It can tolerate shade.
Countries/locations it is found in
Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, South America
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Palm heart
How it is grown
Plants grow from seed. These are usually spread naturally.