Licuri palm
Syagrus coronata

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A slender palm. It grows 10-13 m tall. The trunk is 30 cm across. The old leaf bases remain on the trunk. The leaves are 3.3 m long. The leaves arch over. The leaves are like a cluster of feathers. They are bluish-green. The leaflets are in groups of 3-4. The leaflets are 30 cm long. They leaf bases remain hanging on the palm, forming a spiral pattern. A bundle of fruit hang down from the palm. The fruit are about 1.5 cm across and 2.6 cm long. They are orange and fleshy. The fruit is edible. The nut kernel is also edible and is rich in oil.

There are about 30 Syagrus species.

Where it is found

It grows in subtropical and warm temperate places. It needs fertile and moist soils. It is damaged by frost. It will grow on calcareous soils. Plants do best in sunny positions. It suits plant hardiness zones 9-11. In Brisbane Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Chile, India, Peru, South America

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten. The palm heart is edible. The nut kernel is edible. The nuts yield an edible oil. The starch is made into sago. It is used in bread.

Edible parts

Fruit, palm heart, starch, nuts, oil

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds germinate rapidly in moist soils at 21°-25°C. They can take a year to germinate. They should be kept moist. Seed need to be planted fresh. Seedlings can be transplanted out after 3 years. Seed will store for 90 days in humid conditions.

Plants grow very slowly. It flowers in warm wet seasons.

Its other names

Local names

Alicuri, Aricuri, Licueizeiro, Nicuri, Ouricuri palm, Ouricury palm, Queen palm, Uricuri

Synonyms

Arecastrum romanzoffianum var. ensifolium (Drude) Becc.; Cocos botryophora var. ensifolia Drude; Cocos coronata Mart.; Cocos coronata var. todari Becc.; Cocos quinquefaria Barb. Rodr.; Glaziova treubiana Becc.; Syagrus coronata var. todari Becc.; Syagrus quinquefaria (Barb. Rodr.) Becc.; Syagrus treubiana (Becc.) Becc.;