Rock coconut
Syagrus ruschiana

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It has a cluster of stems. It grows 2-8 m tall. The trunks are 4-12 cm across. There are 7-12 leaves and they are 3 m long. The leaf stalk is 1.2-2 m long. There are 48-58 leaflets on each side and they are arranged regularly and spread in the same plane. The flowering stalk has 41-72 long slender flowering branches. The fruit are narrowly oval and 2.5 cm long by 2 cm wide. They are bright orange with a green tip. The outer layer often splits into 3 parts at the tip.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open areas on Gneiss rocks. It grows between 100-400 m altitude in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Brazil, South America

How it is used for food

The kernel is oil rich and edible.

Edible parts

Kernel, oil, nuts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Coco de pedra, Palmeirinho

Synonyms

Arikuryroba ruschiana (Bondar) Tol; Cocos ruschiana Bondar;