Mumbaca palm, Cubarro palm
Astrocaryum gynacanthum

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm with a cluster of stems. They are 2-6 m high. They can be 12 m high. The stems are 3-6 cm across. They can be 10 cm across. The stems are covered with flattened spines. These are 15 cm long. There are 6-13 leaves. They spread out horizontally. They are about 3 m long. There are 21-41 leaflets on each side. They are arranged regularly and spread in the same plane. The leaflets at the tip are fused. The flowering stalk hangs down. The fruit are oval and 2.5-3 cm long by 1.2-1.5 cm across. They are smooth. They are crowded together and bright orange.

There are about 40-50 Astrocaryum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the understorey in lowland rainforest. It grows on non flooded soils below about 650 m elevation.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Indonesia, SE Asia, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten. The palm heart is burnt for vegetable salt.

The fruit are enjoyed.

Edible parts

Fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and suckers.

Its other names

Local names

Coco de puerco, Hi arau, Macana, Mapuhuri, Masoa plimpla, Palem kubaro, Palma de serrillo, Plimpla palm, Ti-warra, Urishi, Widi, Wiri

Synonyms

Astrocaryum gymopus Burret; Astrocaryum gynacanthum var. dasychaetum Burret; Astrocaryum gynacanthum var. munbaca Trail; Astrocaryum minus Trail; Astrocaryum minus var. terrafirme Drude; Astrocaryum munbaca Mart.; Astrocaryum rodriguesii var. minus (Trail)Barb. Rodr.; Astrocaryum vulgare of Warburg;