Copernicia tectorum

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It has stems 8-10 m tall. They are 25-30 cm across. Young palms have the leaf bases remaining on the trunk. The leaves are spreading. The leaf blade is round in outline. It is green on the lower surface. It does not have thorns on the edges. The flowering stalk is just longer than the leaves. The flowering branches are up to 17 cm long. They are 1-2 mm across and have small bristle like bracts. The fruit are oval and 2.5-3 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. They are brown.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in seasonally flooded savannah areas. It can withstand long droughts and long floods.

Countries/locations it is found in

Colombia, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Palma sara, Palmiche

Synonyms

Copernicia sanctae-martae Becc.; Corypha tectorum Kunth;