Hyospathe elegans

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It grows up to 8 m tall. It can have one stem or a cluster of up to 8 stems. They are 1-3 cm across. The crown has 5-11 leaves up to 2 m long. The fruit are 1.2-1.6 cm long.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows as an understorey plant in tropical rainforest. It grows up to about 1,000 m above sea level. It suits a warm, sheltered, moist position.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The palm heart or cabbage is cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Palm heart, cabbage, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Chamaedorea falcaria L. H. Bailey; Hyospathe brevipedunculata Dammer; Hyospathe concinna H. E. Moore; Hyospathe lehmannii Burret; and others