Gru-Gru Palm, Macaw palm
Acrocomia aculeata
Family: Arecaceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
There are 2 Acrocomia species. This is a very variable species and may be one or 26 species. It has antihypovitaminosis A properties.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It needs well drained soil and good sun. It grows in savannah and open woodland, usually at low altitude. In Bolivia it grows to 900 m altitude. In Argentina it grows between 100-200 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Amazon, Andes, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, East Africa, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, West Indies
How it is used for food
The sap is used for palm wine. The kernels of the fruit are eaten raw. They have a coconut-like pulp. The palm cabbage is eaten. The outer husk or pulp is edible. The kernels contain cooking oil.
It is cultivated for its fruit. The fruit are especially eaten by children.
Edible parts
Kernels, sap, fruit, nuts, seeds, cabbage, young leaves, palm heart, oil
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed. Seed are difficult to germinate and this is improved by soaking in warm water or cracking the seed coat. Fresh seed should be planted. Seeds may take 1 year to sprout.
Seedlings grow quickly and spines soon appear. The kernel contains 58% fat.
Its other names
Local names
Acrocome, Amankayo, Bacaiuva, Bocaiuva, Coco, Coco-baboso, Coco-depcatarro, Corocho de Jamaica, Corojo, Corozo, Coyol baboso, Coyoli palm, Coyolipalme, Gouglou, Glouglou, Grou-grou, Huana, Macacauba, Macajuba, Macauba palm, Macauva, Maguedji, Manihua jihui, Map, Mbocaya, Mucaia, Mucaja, Mucajuba, Mucuja palm, Namogoligi, Palma de coyol, Palmeira-macauba, Panima, Paraguay palm, Shodo, Suppa palm, Totai, Tucuma, Tuk', Uba, Xodo, Ya cul
Synonyms
Acrocomia antiguana L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia antioquiensis Pusada-Arango; Acrocomia belizensis L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia christopherensis L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia chunta Covas & Ragonese; Acrocomia erioacantha Barb. Rodr.; Acrocomia fusiformis (Sw.) Sweet; Acrocomia glaucophylla Drude; Acrocomia grenadana L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia hospes L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia ierensis L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia intumescens Drude; Acrocomia karukerana L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia lasiospatha Mart.; Acrocomia media O. F. Cook; Acrocomia mexicana Karw. ex Mart.; Acrocomia microcarpa Barb. Rodr.; Acrocomia mokayayba Barb. Rodr.; Acrocomia odorata Barb. Rodr.; Acrocomia panamensis L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia pilosa Leon; Acrocomia quisqueyana L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia sclerocarpa Mart.; Acrocomia spinosa (Mill.) H. E. Moore; Acrocomia subinermis Leon ex L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia totai Mart.; Acrocomia ulei Dammer; Acrocomia viegasii L.H.Bailey; Acrocomia vinifera Oerst.; Acrocomia wallaceana Becc.; Bactris globosa Gaertn.; Bactris pavoniana Mart.; Cocos aculeatus Jacq.; Cocos fusiformis Sw.; Euterpe aculeata (Willd.) Spreng.; Palma spinosa Mill.;