Overtop palm
Syagrus amara

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It has a single stem. It is 15-20 m tall and 10-20 cm across. The trunk is swollen at the base. There are 12-15 leaves and they are 3 m long. There are 102-106 leaflets on each side and these are rigid. They are arranged in irregular clusters of 2-3. They spread out at different planes but are not feathery. The flowering stalk has about 50 flowering branches. The fruit are oval and 5-7 cm long and 3.5 cm wide.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in the Lesser Antilles below 300 m altitude. In Brisbane Botanical gardens. In XTBG Yunnan. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antilles, Asia, Australia, Central America (country/location of origin), China Cuba, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Lucia, West Indies

How it is used for food

The flowering stalk is tapped for its sweet sap. This has been made into wine. The fruit are also fermented and used for a drink. The kernels are bitter but are eaten by children.

Edible parts

Sap, fruit, palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Coco nain, Iataho, Kokoye, Mocho, Petit coco de bois, Yataw, Yattahou

Synonyms

Cocos amara Jacq.; Rhyticocos amara (Jacq.)Becc.;