Sierra palm
Prestoea acuminata var. montana

Family: Arecaceae

What it is like

A palm. It grows about 20 m tall. The trunk is 10-20 cm across. The leaf sheath is about 40 cm long. The leaves are about 2 m long and 1 m wide. The leaflets are long and narrow.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows near the streams in the higher regions in Puerto Rico.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antilles, Bolivia, Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, South America, Tobago, USA, West Indies

How it is used for food

The inner leaf sheaths or palm heart is up to 1 m long and 10 cm wide but eating this kills the palm.

Edible parts

Palm heart, cabbage

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Acrista monticola O. F. Cook; Euterpe manaele (Mart.) Griseb. & H. Wendl.; Euterpe montana Graham; Euterpe pertenuis L. H. Bailey; Euterpe tobagonis L. H. Bailey; Oreodoxa manaele Mart.; Prestoea montana (Graham) G. Nicholson;