Jucum palm, Tucum
Bactris setosa

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A clumpy palm. It forms clumps up to 6 m tall. The stems have rings and have spines along them. There are 2-5 leaves per stem. There are 30-57 leaflets on each side. They are in groups of 4-7 and arranged in various planes. The flowering stalk comes from between the leaves. The fruit have a thin, succulent pulp and are sweet.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the understorey in damp or swampy soils in the Atlantic forest in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil (country/location of origin), Ecuador, South America

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

The fruit are popular.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, oil, drinks, palm heart

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seed.

Its other names

Local names

Chonta, Jacum, Jucum,Tucun, Tuncum, Mucuri, Pi-cani-chi, Ticum, Tucum-do-brejo, Tucum-piranga, Tucunzeiro

Synonyms

Bactris escragnolei Glaz. ex Burret; Bactris lindmanniana Drude ex Lindman; Bactris setosa var. santensis Barb. Rodr.;