Kamwari
Desmoncus polyacanthos

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A creeper or climbing palm. It can be 7-37 m long. The stems are 1-2 cm across. The stems are covered with leaf sheaths. There are 17-26 leaves. The fruit turn yellow then orange and red as they ripen. They are oval and 1.6 cm long by 1.3 cm wide. There is one seed. It is black and round.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, South America, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is edible. The seeds are used to make a drink.

The fruit are occasionally eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, seed

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Asitaremu, Coco-titara, Enredadera, Espera-ai, Jacitara, Jassitara, Jequita, Jipiti, Urubamba, Weheyu, Yasitara

Synonyms

Many others