Curua
Attalea spectabilis

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. The stems are short and underground. They are 1 m long. They spread by underground stems. There are 8 leaves. The leaflets are regularly arranged. They spread in the same plane. The flowering stalk is erect. It is borne among the leaves. The stamens of the male flowers are coiled and twisted. The fruit have 1-2 seeds. The fruit are oval and 5-6 cm long by 3-4 cm wide. They are brownish.

There are between (22) 30-71 Attalea species. Some authorities divide them among Attalea, Orbignya, Scheela and Maximiliana.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on sandy soils at low elevations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, Guianas, Guyana, South America, Suriname

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Attalea monosperma Barb.Rodr.; Attalea spectabilis var. monosperma (Barb.Rodr.) Drude; Attalea spectabilis var. typica Drude; Orbigyna spectabilis (Mart.) Burret;