Corozo, Egger's palm
Aiphanes eggersii
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A slender clumping palm. It grows about 5 m tall. The bases of the fronds and the stalk are covered with black spines 5 cm long and also short fine spines. The fronds have wedge shaped segments. They are 45 cm long and 9 cm wide. They are green above and whitish underneath. They are arranged in irregular groups. They also lie at different angles. The male flower is yellow. The fruit are 1.5-1.7 cm across. They are round and red.
There are about 38 Aiphanes species. They grow in tropical America.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry deciduous forests. It grows in coastal regions in dry lowlands below 600 m altitude in Ecuador.
Countries/locations it is found in
Ecuador, South America
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten.
It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Chontaruro